Aximeus & Jericho
At the mention of a police statement, Sara blanches. "I am not sure i can do that, calling the police is one thing but giving evidence..."
As Aximeus' gaze intensifies, Sara shivers. "Look I don't know what was happening, I just gave Tybalt the box. Like what Thomas told me to; I don't want him to get in any more trouble. I am sure that they wouldn't jail that hippy lad, anyways."
Remembering the unyielding presence of Aximeus' Soul Gaze. "Alright, I'll talk to the coppers' but I don't want to get anyone in trouble."
Gabriel turns gazing about nodding his head jerkily as if on strings to Duana's demad. "I know of a car service my family called upon them as needed when father wanted to be discreet. I am sure I can find their number somewhere."
"Have them meet us," Duana answers coolly, and stretches. She regards the line of her powerful legs a moment, completely confident in the knowledge that her form is wholly impressive. "It pains me to have to sacrifice a pair of good pumps, but I believe that speed is of the essence. Gelert, scout ahead, ensure that there are no enemies without who might have had the same idea," she commands her companion, "You are forbidden to engage without my presence, simply report."
Gabriel regards the woman for a silent moment running his eyes over her, he had to admit she was easy on the eyes but something about her...reminded him too much of Maeve, she would have to learn how to control that if she was to ever find a place else she would just be a another puppet as much as he was whether she rebelled at the thought or not.
Wrenching his thoughts away from that line of reasoning Gabriel bows in courtly fashion "Yes mistress, may I remind the princes though both mine and her rooms have already been set up with wards around them. if needed the princess could use mine as my family lived there for a time the threshold would be far stronger than some hotel room....and it is rather public at least the entrance is. I shall let you decide Duana." With that reminder he jerks upright and strides out looking out into the hallway trying to locate a public phone with a phonebook.
Finding the number was a simple matter of looking for private car services with drivers and locating the correct name, it was a little foggy but he quickly dialed the number and clipped out in his best high end family accent "Yes a pick up and possible multiple stops with return service as necessary, ten minutes at this address." With that he hung up the phone knowing the booking had already been placed once he had given the address to this place.
Gelert swivels an ear at her and chuffs again, then turns on his ponderous paws and treads out of the office, tail wagging as he walks outside and surveys the area with his keen nose and eyes.
Alertness
He keeps his senses entirely open to his surroundings, head turning this way and that with a mechanical ease, his nose picking up scents that humans would never be able to smell, sounds with his tufted ears that human ears would not even register.
Inwardly, he feels a slight turn of rebellion at Duana's commands. He followed her because he had to and because he wanted to protect her. He felt no love for combat, and his paw even still hurt a little from the dead-thing's claws. However, he was more than just a hound, he was one of the Wyld Fey. Fighting and hunting came natural to his kind and there was a certain joy in the art of it.
However, he knows the wisdom of Duana's words despite her tone. She didn't want him to get hurt.
Chuffing again, the great dog made sure there was no one around laying in wait to harm his companions. If there was any, he tracked them with his eyes and ears, keeping low to the ground and then bolts back to Duana to growl and turn back to the door with a growl, legs braced and fangs bared. Otherwise he just keeps watch.
When Gelert returns unharmed, Duana smiles, and places the box beside him to free her hands to pet behind his ears, leans forward and whispers, "You are the only I trust," before rising and smiling at Danny. "And you, Summer? Will you be joining us?"
Duana exits the building with the box in her arms, and Gelert beside her, and rejoins Maeve's knight.
"My building houses professionals, and none are in frequent residence. It is well enough for the occasional visit by a paramour, or my morning runs, but not particularly suited for tactical advantage to prevent an ambush," she tells Gabriel while she waits. "If you do not object to mortals whom you may speak to frequently being placed in danger for this information, we may travel to your home.
"I had thought to buy a hat," she continues. Duana looks to Gelert. "And Gelert will need food," she says, considering how best to get him attention without drawing too much of it to themselves.
Gelert pants happily as she pets him and he gives her a knowing, happy look at her soft words and he licks her cheek once as an affirmation. He leans his head against her as she speaks to the others.
At the mentions of food however, his ears shoot straight up and he wags his tail violently, thumping it against Duana's leg and the nearest solid object with such force that it causes small banging sounds. He pants excitedly and looks up at her licking his nose, cocking his head trying to look as adorable and underfed as possible. Food was his only vice, human food tasted so very good and it made him feel ravenous at the mention of it.
Fey Group
Whilst outside Gelert notices the Dentist sat at a nearby bench eating a sandwich, with the paper beside him and a cup of hot coffee from the nearby starbucks. But nobody supernatural.
She gets to a nearby large van; [i]North Yorkshire County Council - Mobile Library[i] is written on the side. Juggling her keys, she fumbles them but saves her coffee from the floor. Taking a breather, pushing her glasses back up she slowly gets in the van to consume her drink.
Gelert's ears go straight up and he follows the woman with his eyes, his heart suddenly torn. Back in Duana's precesnce he remembers her and suddenly and frantically chuffs once and bolts out of the door, looking back at her and chuffing again, tail held low and ears flat as he scans the street for the woman. His first lead in monthes he could not miss it, but he could not abandon his Mistress. In this city he might never find her again! He frantcially looks around for the coffee woman and when (if) he can still see her he lowers his body to the ground and begins creeping slowly along to follow her and see if she keeps whatever is metal and forged of old iron in her van.
Stealth
Gelert's anxiousness is noteable and he knows the woman senses he is nearby, although his dark pelt blends in well with the night his paws sound rather too loudly and his breath comes out in pants, his eyes all but glowing in the light of the streetlight ahead. Even so he continues to stalk forwards, trying desperately to see inside her van before she speeds away, and in his brain he takes down every single scent of the woman should he need to track her later.
Gelert & anyone outside
As he tries to approach the purple van, his dark coat stands out in the midday sun (even through the overcast sky). The woman sees him gets out of the vehicle, moves towards him. In her open hand is a chunk of ham from her sandwich she places it towards his muzzle; "Here you go boy, you hungry." her voice radiates kindness. She gently moves to place her hand atop his head to give him a stroke.
Her hands move with an assured precision that is at odds with the rest of her demeanour. "Oh, you out here on your own?" Her who being smells of the forged metal that Gelert wants, not as if she has it on her but that she is around it regularly. The lady continues to feed the large hound, though not forcifully.
Gelert plays the lovable stray dog to the best of his ability, reptending to be wary when she persents him with food and taking it quickly and swallowing it down. THe ham was welcome, so he lets her scratch behind his ears and keep feeding him. The woman was nice and friendly and warm, but the smell that lay about her made Gelert a tiny bit anxious. The Helm had a very distinct scent and he had to know if it was indeed the metal he sought. He suddenly pushs his nose into her neck and sniffs heavily, tail wagging and making the woman giggle at his cold nose. He keeps sniffing, trying to affirm his suspicions.
Gelert
The smell is definately the same as that of the Helm. As he acts the lovable dog he notices that she is wearing an intricately crafted wedding ring of the same metal. But this is not the source of the smell; it's as if it pervades her being. "Awww, I hope you have a good home boy." the lady says after finishing feeding the dog. She then redoes her pony-tail.
Gelert gives her a pathetic homeless dog look and wags his tail at the van and back at her, cocking his head to one side aodrably and sitting back on his haunches, forepaws up against his chest and doggy grin flashing at its most appealing.
Rapport
Gelert is as adorable as a gigantic pupyy, making a bid to try and look inside of her van to see if she actually had the helm in her possession. Her smell was too strong and he took in every detail of her scent, knowing she was his closest link towards completeing his goal. He paws at the air a couple of times in a plaintive gesture and then whines at the van again.
Gelert
"No, your not allowed in the back there's lots of books in there." she syas in a kind voice. But as the large hound leaps up resting his heavy paws upon the side of the van; Gelert gets a look inside. Within the walls are lined with books, in special book cases preventing them from spilling over the floor when the vehicle is in motion.
Mostly the books appear to be for those infant humans or the elderly, there is no indication of anything metal or large. Especially that which Gelert is looking for - it doesn't appear to be in the van. Although above the drivers area is a plaque with the ladies face upon it and a name & address.
"Get down from there." she says in an insistant tone. As Gelert moves he leaves faint mucky paw prints on the white vehicle. "You having any trouble with that?" comes a nasal voice from nearby. The dentist having risen from the bench is beside the hound and the librarian. She shakes her head, in a non-confrontational way.
"Think the beast belongs to some bird and her fancy men. In the building over there. It should be chained up." the man says.
Gelert flicks his ears at the man and gives him a too intelligent look as if to say Just try and chain me up then he pants, scratches behind his ear and licks her woman's hand as if in apology for dirtying her vehicle. He makes a point while licking to mark every tny detail about her, knowing that he will indeed be seeing her again sometime soon. The Helm was here, in this city, as far as Gelert knew. Years of searching would not be wasted any longer. He smiles up at the woman then licks his nose, rubs his head against her hand one last time, then trots off back toward the building Duana and the rest were in.
Duana is quite pleased to see that the dentist has taken up sentry outside with his miserable lunch. Amongst Sidhe her tastes in bed partners was perverse but it was none too radical in consideration of her blood. Duana was just as quick to entertain lesser fey, if not quicker. Slap and tickle with Sidhe lords and ladies none too often ended in broken bones since Maeve's last round of discipline, and with Lloyd Slate's agonized shrieks cutting through the silence of Never Never when she thought she were losing presence in the court. Mortals, however, or half breeds such as herself were in short supply, and Duana inherently trusted them less.
Duana's heels click against the pavement in a snappish rhythm as she crosses and stands before the dentist.
"Excuse me," she says, "I could not help but overhear the epithet you snarled at me in passing. I am curious if you are in possession of the strength of character required to repeat your curse in direct confrontation."
Outside the Office
The portly dentist blusters "I am afraid I don't know what you are talking about. Your dog should be leashed he was harrassing this poor lady." he says confrontationally;
Whilst the smaller brunette lady shakes her head slightly. "No it's alright. He's a lovely dog."
The heavy set man continues; "I am afraid some of us must be getting back to work. We cannot afford to lounge around all day."
"Spurious cur," Duana sighs, disappointment plain on her face. "I very much wished to invite you to lounge with me, had your answer pleased me," she muses, tone low and seductive.
"Gelert," she calls her companion to her. "Demonstrate your civility to this animal," she commands, and when Gelert comes to heel and waits on her next order, she leans down and scratches behind his ear. "Ne'er a collar 'round his neck," she observes the dentist, and gestures to the dentist's tie with a smug smile. "Just complete confidence that his mistress has naught else but his needs at the forefront of her mind." Duana teases. "Enjoy the remainder of your day, sir." she says and laughs as she stalks away, heels clicking.
Office-ial Business
The portly man reddens at the insult, "Wouldn't touch you wit' a barge-pole." the blanches as Duana siccs Gelert on the dentist. The fat man runs towards the safety of the building, before he even gets near the doors, you can hear him panting for breath and see his form wobble as he goes inside.
"Thank you. Beautiful pedigree you have there. the meek lady says quietly.
Duana smiles at the woman. "Gelert is a prodigious hunter, from exceedingly prestigious stock," she says, pride clear in her voice. She leans down and scratches behind the hound's ears. "I raised him from a pup," she recalls fondly. "Would that I could locate an appropriate mate for him," she recognizes and sighs, then looks to her hound.
Gelert swivels his ears up at Duana and cocks his head quizically at the suggestion of finding him a mate. Inwardly he thinks upon his fellows running with the Erlking and knows that finding another like him in this world would be very hard to accomplish. Nonetheless he licks her hand and wags his tail in silent appreciation for the compliments.
He looks up at the woman as well and wags his tail gratefully. He might not have found the helm but he had a clue as to who might know where it was, as well as a free ham sandwich! Nothing to sneer at for that kind of news and gift.
The lady looks thoughful at Duana's statement. "Well, Mother might know a few breeders amongst the hunt. I'll give her a ring tonight, if you're serious. My name's Laura, by the way. Hang on." she leans into the front of the van drawing out a poster and scribbling on the back. "Here's my number. If you want to give me a ring." the short lady says.
Gabriel watches the whole exchange in silence, Just like the fey he thinks before moving up behind Duana.
"Duana, the car will be here shortly." he says into the ladies ear before moving back with a nod to the woman in the van. Books had always been a pastime he couldn't really get into, sure a few interesting novels from the library but nothing so serious as to buy them. This whole business with pesturing the dentist was sure to get them a complaint of some sort if they didnt hurry.
"Laura, a lovely name," Duana replies, her tone gentle. "I will be sure to investigate common breeding practices. In fact, I had thought earlier that it has been almost a year since I had Gelert in to see the veterinarian. I will have him make as accurate a chart of Gelert's health as possible for your mother to consider his suit," she says sweetly as she takes the poster.
"Thank you for your expedience, sir," she replies to Gabriel, her tone clipped. "I should call ahead to the office," she begins, steering Gelert and Gabriel away from the woman mousy woman and her van. "Gelert has not been examined by mortals, but, I fear for his earlier injuries. We've no reason to expect that we are safe, and he is an able warrior. we need to attend him."
"I cannot think of any with the expertise."
Outside the offices
Laura bids goodbye to the group and rubs Gelerts head gently. "Boy, we'll find you a nice mate." she gets into the library van and after a couple of splutters it chugs off into the traffic.
Out of the flow of traffic glides a long black car. A sharply dressed driver gets out of the front opens the rear doors. "Mr Gabriel." the chauffeur states with a fluid upper-class accent. It's hard to judge his age, certainly not in the first flush of spring but not older.
As the chauffeur gets in he looks over his shoulders at the passengers. "Where to now?"
At the mention of the Veternarian Gelert gives Duana a suspicious look and takes a step back, lupine eyes narrowed and he chuffs out a warning breath and watches the girl go with some reluctance. There went his only lead on monthes...it was a good thing his nose could still scent her from here. He would have to follow her eventually. Odds were that the Helm would be showcased in some auction for his luck.
He chuffs again, looking moody then trots over to the car and jumps in before the driver can object and curls up on one of the leather seats, closing his eyes and sighing, resting his great head on his forepaws.
"Shopping," Duana replies tersely. "I do not know the area as of yet. Some place where I can get a huge f*ck off hat like Queen wears," she says so I can feed the hideous thing to Gelert and store our true objective out of sight.
Shopping Sidhe
"Certainly Madam, I am acquainted with just the place." The car glides through the traffic, the journey takes them to a small out-of town retail park. The driver turns to look at the passengers; "Here we are, it's a touch bleak on the outside. But there are a number of top designers and many quality stores inside. Unless you wish only a couple of super exclusive items."
Outside the car is a grey car park leading to a glass fronted building, inside a few shoppers walk from store to store; in the usual malaise of the rich and bored.
Duana's eyes light up when she sees the fashionable and the idle sauntering from shop to shop. There is no greater concealment than a leisurely stroll through a public venue, she muses and spares a sideways glance at Gabriel.
Put me on a time table, will he? Direct me!
Unable to contain a mirthless laugh, Duana gravitates towards a woman's undergarments shop. Through the tasteful displays in the front of the store, she sees that they sell lace and satin bras, but she has little hope that they will carry anything that she might be interested in, from the cut of the panties in the display. This does not keep her from paging through each individual rack, occasionally picking up an item, examining it thoroughly before putting it back. If a saleswoman approaches her to close a sale, Duana is deliberately vague with her description of what she would like, and prompts Gabriel for his opinion about color and cut.
"He is so much more informed about modern fashions than I am," she explains, her all too human eyes glittering. "I would be lost without him."
Gabriel grins as he can't help but notice the slight insinuation of an insult in the girl's statement.
"Anything will look great on you beloved." He smiles good naturedly as he meets the confused glance of the saleswoman. "She's getting my birthday present, she thinks it will be a surprise but then again how lucky am I to have such a lover as her." He smiles again, "And of course it's her turn to pay as it is my birthday." he chuckles and points to a rather riske set of underwear, "Isn't that similar to what you showed up in for my last party?"
Two can play at that game little minx. I am not so tame and dull witted, I wouldn't have survived very long in Maeve's court.
All:[/spoiler]
[/spoiler]
Danny folds the papers in half and tucks them into his leather jacket. He cracks the door and peeks into the hall as the other two begin dismembering the poor dead man;s office. HE shakes his head.
"Crazy Fae have never heard of camera surveillance. Not that THIS place is heavily wired. Still. We're gonna get caught! Unless,..." He turns to the others.
"HAve you done enough damage yet? We need to go. Before anyone discovers us in the middle of redecorating." He says with a polite smirk. He bows the others out before him. Ignoring or oblivious to the knight's stony glare and Duana's powerful combination of sexual predator & haughty noblewoman.
'And a very powerful combination it is too!' He is forced to admit as she pauses next to him for a moment as if to say something, then seems to change her mind and continues out the door.
As Danny leaves, he turns back and closes the door. And starts singing.
He focuses on a movie he watched only last week. It was an old gangster movie. He could barely remember the plot, but the gangsters, their clothes and their movements were crystal clear in his mind. He sings low, his lips barely moving.
A moment later, two figures appear around the corner of the hallway behind them, as if the figures had entered from the back of the building. As Danny follows the others around the corner to the front of the building, the mysterious figures, (each dressed in almost matching pinstripe suits), force the door to the office open, and go inside.
Danny is humming merrily now, fully into the flow of the magic. As they exit the building, he sees Gelert with a lady in front of a kiddie bookmobile. He steps aside, beads of sweat beginning to form on his brow as he maintains his concentration. But this is not only one of his better ideas. (at least in his mind) but he's also having fun! As Duana sends the pudgy dentist/prince wannabe dashing back inside to safety, the two pinstripes walk out the front door, almost colliding with the dentist.
Danny has a nervous moment as the two pinstripes dance back away from the dentist, reaching for their jacket pockets.
"Escuuse us." Pinstripe #1 says in heavily accented english.
"Ouwer Apologiez." Pinstripe #2 says with matching accent.
The dentist flees inside the building, seemingly oblivious to the close encounter of the gangster kind as he seeks refuge from the amazon outside. The two pinstripes walk around the side of the building, and out of sight.
Danny sighs, relaxes a bit, and wipes the sweat from his forehead.
'I'll never complain about being forced to watch that old video of 'Kiss Me Kate' again!' Danny promises himself, making a note to thank the twins the next time he sees them.
'If that doesn't throw a monkey wrench into any cop's investigation of the trashed office, I'll turn in my guitar. THAT was pretty good. Even if I DO have to say so myself!' He grins as he overhears the 'WinterMint Twins' saying goodbye to the bookmobile babe.
He raises an eyebrow as he steps closer, overhearing something about the dentist, and now a girlfriend for Gelert? What had he missed exactly? Danny gives the bookmobile lady a jaunty wave and a wink as he joins the others at the curb. Seeing the car pull up, Danny gives a low whistle.
"Nice friends you have!" Danny says appreciatively. He pulls his gaze away before he can be tempted to enter.
"Alright. Look, I have to go. I'm going to have a look at the scene where our guy was killed last night. Meet me at this bookstore later today. Give me a couple of hours. I'll meet you there, and let's see if we can't put this stuff together and make some sense out of it." He says, tapping the paper bulge in his jacket.
Ignoring their parting jibes, Danny steps lively as the car pulls out. He hails a cab, asks the driver to take him to the pub address that Axe gave him. During the brief ride, He pulls out the journal and flips through it again. He taps his chin thoughtfully as he reads.
=====
At the street, Danny gets out, thanks the driver and gives him an adequate tip. He walks around the side of the block, and looks down the alley at the caution tape and police still on the scene and working. Of Axe he sees no sign.
"Dangit Axe. If this is some wild-goose-chase,...?" Danny grumbles. It is by pure happenstance that he is looking up as movement in one window catches his eye. Someone has just opened the blinds in an upstairs window. It is a lady. She is talking to someone and pointing out her balcony garden. A moment later Axe lumbers into view.
"Way to go, Ida-ho!" Danny smirks. He wonders exactly what the warrior is doing up there, then takes another look at the window.
"Ah. Ah hah. Witness." Danny figures it out as he looks again at the mess of the Alley, and tries to figure out exactly what he is supposed to do here. At least with the police still on the sight.
"I believe that you are confused," Duana answers carefully, and looks to the attendant. "You know full well that I prefer the coverage of briefs and tap pants. I have a particular penchant for eroticism," Duana tells the attendant. "And discretion," Duana adds coldly for Gabriel.
"Have you corsets?" she asks the attendant. "I believe that he should be punished for allowing his tongue to get ahead of him, and it is known to me that he lacks patience."
Duana's eyes glitter with anger as she admires the peridot pair of lace and mesh panties that Gabriel suggested, and will do her best to match the color and pattern of the lace to the store's stock. She finds naught but a satin corset in a comparable shade with petal pink ribbon accents. The corner of Duana's lips curl up in a smile, and she quickly coordinates with a matching garter belt that appears as though it will cover a generous amount of her lower abdomen and hips with pink ribbon garters.
"Nude for the hose," she says to the attendant, confident in her assessment. "Only silk will do, although I do not believe that I will need the seam up the backs with this pair," she hums, imagining how the final product will look. "No, I do not believe that I will need to try them on," she says when the attendant asks.
Duana hums an impossibly beautiful tune while the woman at the register rings up her purchases, and Duana recommends the attendent for a commission on the sale, but handles the electronic... stylus for her authorization of the purchase as though it were a brick.
Duana drags Gabriel to a shoe store, where she picks up a pair of peep toe pumps in an animal print with a wicked three and a half inch stiletto heel. As the cross the mall back towards the exit, she pauses at a jeweler's storefront to admire a display of 'engagement rings' and favors him with a soft smile.
"When do you believe that we should inform our mothers of your proposal?" she inquires cruelly, looking between a display of a fairly large carat diamond ring and her naked hand.
Danny
Looking around the alleyway, . Then Danny feels something hitting his legs, a persistant bumping. Looking down a ginger striped cat, rubs itself against the mans legs. Walking around in a circle, pushing its head and stroking its fat body against the changeling.
It lets out a pathetic meow, as if begging for a stroke. After nearly a minute of the sqeaks and strokes the cat moves towards an open wooden gate. Inside is a beautifully kept garden, wild and at the same time manicured and well tended. The cat bounds across the garden and headbutts the kitchen door open.
All is silent in the garden and Danny can faintly hear Aximeus voice coming from the kitchen.
"What box would that be, please, and why did he want it and for whom. How did you come to have it. I aint no Sherlock and Jericho there aint no Holmes, but we would appreciate what you could tell us before more people get dead."
"Jericho, you gots anything ta say on the topic?, What do you think detective?"
Alertness to spot Danny outside as I am expecting him sometime...
Aximeus, Jericho & Danny
The ginger cat jumps into Sara's lap. She starts stroking it with long smooth motions. "Ty paid Tim to get a box, an ivory one, about a foot long. Tim left it here for Tybalt to pick up, I didn't think it was dangerous." her voice shocked.
As her nervousness recinds as she strokes the cat. "That ghostly thing took the box. Do you think Tim is in any danger" The agritated tone subhumed under the cats soporific effect.
"I don't know who the box was meant for; although I did hear Ty on the phone at the bar the other week he said he had a couple of buyers." Sara goes to pour some more tea, spilling about half, then drinks the steaming liquid.
"Excuse me a minute Miss"
Waves over the ledge "Hey Danno" *smirk* "I'll be down in a moment, thank you for coming."
to the lady "could you describe the thing that took it; I did not see it and my friends description is a bit lacking, as for Tim, that is uncertain at best. On one hand; the creature has the box and such things tend to ignore most mortals as tools or beneath notice, the more powerful; the less they are concerned and also there are many, even the most wicked, who are very polite and would find it a blemish on their honor to eliminate a useful contact; but, it is usually mankind which is its own worst enemy; and men are not above sending such a creature on a task and many would elimanate any loose ends that might lead back to them. I have been fighting against one kind of bully or dictator for most of my life who try to enslave or destroy mankind. Thus they have no regard for whom they kill or destroy or perform horrid experiments upon. I just dont have enough to guess the scope of this incursion, guys like the detective here and Jericho and good 'ol Danno downstairs are much better at sorting such things. I myself am much more a man of action."
"If it is not to big a impossition; I would like to speak to your Tim. I repect a working man and in these hard time, sometimes a man has to take a job he would rather pass, but he may be able to further describe his employer and the the boxes contents."
Aximeus, Danny & Jericho
Sara shivers, "The thing that killed Ty & took the box seemed to be a ghost. Though I have little experience with them, it seems quite rare that they interact with humans. And virtually unheard of that it would want a physical item, unless it's linked to the ghost or it's not acting alone." her voice quiet, as you can hear the tick-tock of a grandfather clock in the corner of the room.
"It had silver or steel chains on, it used them upon Ty. It sounded like a tyre iron hitting a side of beef. I haven't seen anything like that before but... York is the most haunted city in the country." pausing to take another sip of tea. "If you'll excuse me. I'll see if Tim's free."
She rises and moves out of the room, you can just hear her speak into a phone. 'Hi love, can you come over. There's some people her about Ty's murder.'....
'No, I told them what I saw.'
'Don't get angry, you're not in any trouble. I know you're doing it for us.'
'Alright, you'll be over in 10.'
Sara returns to the room looking a bit apprehensive. "He'll be over soon. Mr. Danny would you like a scone, tea?"
Anyway Sara, this young Blonde woman, with beautiful eyes and grace reminds you of someone. If you could make a Lore or Investigation Roll.
"I believe that you are confused," Duana answers carefully, and looks to the attendant. "You know full well that I prefer the coverage of briefs and tap pants. I have a particular penchant for eroticism," Duana tells the attendant. "And discretion," Duana adds coldly for Gabriel.
"Have you corsets?" she asks the attendant. "I believe that he should be punished for allowing his tongue to get ahead of him, and it is known to me that he lacks patience."
Duana's eyes glitter with anger as she admires the peridot pair of lace and mesh panties that Gabriel suggested, and will do her best to match the color and pattern of the lace to the store's stock. She finds naught but a satin corset in a comparable shade with petal pink ribbon accents. The corner of Duana's lips curl up in a smile, and she quickly coordinates with a matching garter belt that appears as though it will cover a generous amount of her lower abdomen and hips with pink ribbon garters.
"Nude for the hose," she says to the attendant, confident in her assessment. "Only silk will do, although I do not believe that I will need the seam up the backs with this pair," she hums, imagining how the final product will look. "No, I do not believe that I will need to try them on," she says when the attendant asks.
Duana hums an impossibly beautiful tune while the woman at the register rings up her purchases, and Duana recommends the attendent for a commission on the sale, but handles the electronic... stylus for her authorization of the purchase as though it were a brick.
Duana drags Gabriel to a shoe store, where she picks up a pair of peep toe pumps in an animal print with a wicked three and a half inch stiletto heel. As the cross the mall back towards the exit, she pauses at a jeweler's storefront to admire a display of 'engagement rings' and favors him with a soft smile.
"When do you believe that we should inform our mothers of your proposal?" she inquires cruelly,...
Gabriel watches this all passively though in the back of his mind he wonders if he had been slightly out of line.
When Duana mentions his mother he bristles but talks a mental deep breath before turning to look at her.
"Mistress I believe this sniping at one another is getting us no where. If you wish to brook argument I suggest we leave it where we are behind closed doors and not worrying about more of those things attacking us. My orders...as they are...well i would prefer it if we took a look at those files soon."
Duana rises on her toes, giving the appearance of wishing to bestow her lover with a display of affection, and whispers to the Frost Knight in the language of the court. "Lies hurt."
Duana makes only a token effort to smile as she glides around the Knight and towards the gaudy glass exit. She enters the car with the cool grace of a High Lady of the Winter Court and waits for Gabriel to enter before speaking to the driver.
"The gentleman's home, please. There will be no more stops."
Gelert's ears perk up as they reenter the car and he immediatly lays his head on Duana's lap and chuffs, sensing her icy mood towards the Knight and he whines in sympathy for all three of them. Gabriel for being on the wrong side of his Mistress, Duana for Gabriel's putting her into such a mood, and himself slightly for being able to say or do anything that would improve her mood.
So, he decides simply to lay there on her lap, unless removed and try and be as cute and comforting as possible to get everyone smiling again. Ever since he was a puppy, he had a gift for making even the most stone-hearted Fey lord crack a grin at his antics if only for a moment, and Duana was much warmer than any of those men or women, if only by association.
Duana strokes Gelert's crown, twisting his ears around her fingertips lightly. There was a time when she had trusted mortals, but that time had passed. It seemed only months ago to her, but when she returned to their world, everything had changed. Everything. Grown women dressed like children, like men. And the men...
The nights that Lloyd Slate's screams were allowed to permeate the court, Duana thought of her first mortal lover, for all he had been worth in the end. Maeve's great experiment to breed her to another mortal had ended in failure, as so many projects that included her seemed to end.
Duana leaned forward and slid an arm down Gelert's back to scratch at the middle of his back, where he could not reach with his legs. "We will order steaks from the Tesco," she whispers to him.
Fey Group
In the back of the luxury black car, the tensions start to ease as it glides back into the city. The car pulls up into the driveway of a large house. The imposing building seems quiet spacious for an English town-house, with 3 storeys and a beautifully manicured garden. Though of course it is nothing compared to the sublime illustionary splendor of the fey-realm.
The spacious lounge and fully fitted kitchen is spotless, whilst the house has a cosy soporific warmth.
After the meat and other provisions arrive; the group spread the folio's they found in the offices of Tybalt the Wyld Fae courier/informant.
The Case: To get a reticule or small box (ivory), it is held by the 'Order' at York Cathedral in one of the back rooms. There are a few building layout plans with hand written notes, things like wards, camera positions and motion sensors.
'It has to obtained to contain that which the Queen wants'; Tybalt has written. Then there is a telephone number and what upon closer examination is the name Timmy. It seems he is a 'exquistion expert' though only recently used. He was paid £10k, to get the box and deliver it to Tybalt last night. Half the money in advance.
A client ordered some metal manacles, to be delivered last month. The Client is noted down as H @ Harvey Lane. Costing £10k; with 10% to Tybalt.
Interestingly, the address is in the nearby town of Thirsk and you notice the Telephone number is the same as that of Laura the Mobile Librarian.
The photos include; the cambodian killing fields, Indonesian masks, an athame. As well there are some grainy photo's all with a similar theme of death and suffering and on a grand scale.
In pencil there is a note on the inside of the file saying Maeve and a date, which is a month ago. Next to that is a rubbed out impression saying 'alternate buyer - more money?'.
It contains a picture of an old coal mine nearby, a slaughter house and some maps with '?' on them near cave entrances. There is a final print out from google maps with a heavy X.
A picture with the enscription; The picture is of a woman in victorian dress with an ethereal beauty and a misty figure 'Margaret Clitherow & Roxanna. 1872'.
Amongst the most recent notes is a name 'Henri @ Postal Office in Askham Bar' and 'ask Eleanor!'
Scribbled after this as if in haste is; 'Over heard M say on phone she needs info to black-mail Danny, to help with the ritual. Who is Danny? What Ritual? Must be careful of the crone & warn Timmy.'
Recently the artist has gained a few accolades, some national after his works have become more refined. They have also become more brutal, gory and darker. Think Damien Hurst. Tybalt has got together a list of associates, agents and friends of the artist. The file is by no means completed.
Some of the pictures are quite graphic but have a viceral beauty. Possibly in line with some of the fey excesses.
Danny gives an appreciative glance at the garden, and a half-smile to Axe as he leans out the door. The wave is small, but the smile is sincere. There is just something about Axe that makes Danny grin. And truth be told, after the morning he's had Danny's glad to see a friendly face.
"Hi Axe. What's all the hubbub, bub?" Danny says with a smirk as he takes the large man's hand. Even though Axe is obviously being careful, Danny still stretches his fingers out after the greeting. He silently takes inventory of his digits, because he's seen the man in action and knows what he can do. Danny immediately feels a little guilty afterwords. He's seen the warrior go medieval on a number of people, and creatures, that deserved no less. But he's never seen the man raise so much as his voice to those that didn't deserve it.
The flash of memories makes Danny smile a little, and he claps Axe on the shoulder. "OK. Now what fine mess have you gotten us into?" He grins as he does his best 'Laurel & Hardy'. He shakes the other man's hand when Axe introduces them, and gives a bow of his head to the lady.
'She look's familiar? Do I know her?' Danny muses briefly.
"Yes ma'am. Tea would be lovely. Thank you." Danny replies happily. Noting the woman's shaking hands, Danny slides over and gently takes the teapot from her hands as if he's practiced it.
"Your far too kind. Allow me, please!" Danny says sweetly, as he refills her cup and then pours himself one. He adds sugar and milk, and blows gently to cool it.
"Alright. I'm as ready as I'll ever be. What exactly is going on Axe?" Danny asks. He sips his tea with a (mostly) blank expression as Axe fills him in, aided by interjections from Jericho and the lady of the house.
By the end of the explanation, the dregs of Danny's teas are cold and forgotten, and Danny eyes are almost as wide as the Saucer. He shakes his head.
"Geez Axe, I dunno what to do. I'm no cop or super-sleuth. Seems to me you need to call Toronto or,... wait a minute. Box?" Danny starts looking nervous. "This is the second time today I've run into someone looking for a box."
Danny runs his fingers through his hair. "I was picking up something of mr Tybalt's this morning for his co-worker, and a couple of Ghouls decided to crash his house-boat at the same time. They were looking for a box too." Danny fills Axe in on what happened, including the involvement on the two (3 if you count the dog) Winter warriors.
"Ok. NOW I'm starting to see a puzzle. We've got a few pieces, but I am not seeing the big picture yet. You've been around the block longer than I have Axe, this ghost-thing sound like anything you've heard of before? And WHY would ghouls be after something that belongs to M,... the queen?"
Aximeus, Danny & Jericho
The door bell rings, the young lady gets up with a bit of an extra spring in her step, moving rapidly to the front door. As she leaves the room you see her check her reflection in a hallway mirror.
After a few moments Sara returns beside her is a young man. His leanness makes him appear tall, though his broad shoulders show signs that when he fills out he will be an imposing muscular figure. His hand comes up to wipe the fringe of his hair out of his eyes in a nervous gesture.
"This is Tim,' Sara says her voice upbeat and enthusiastic 'Tim this is Danny, Jericho and Ax."
The young man nods, warily looking around at the men. He looks to Sara, "Love, could you get me a drink? I'm parched." Tim pats he arm possessively as she leaves the room.
He turns you. "What the Hell do you want?"
Danny smiles.
"And hello to you!" He says cheerfully, either missing or ignoring Tim's obvious tone.
"Well, what I'd like is a 10-year contract touring with a famous rock band. With as many days off a year as I wish guaranteed. Other than that, I just want to help you, if I can." Danny says in his smooth, disarming way.
"Relax Tim. We're not the cops. And we aren't likely to call them either. AND we're not here to collect for your bookie, or whatever. And we're not 'clueless' either. So you can talk straight. All we want to know is what happened last night. As much of it as you know. If something's out there killing us, we'd like to find it and stop it. With extreme prejudice."
Danny, Aximeus & Jericho
Tim smiles at Danny's joke, seemingly breaking his cool persona. Sara comes back into the room with a glass of foaming beer for Tim.
He takes a quick sip, "I don't know what I can really say. Ty, sorry Tybalt, hired me for a job. I met him a while back, after we got together." Tim looks up at Sara, stood beside him, you can see the affection in his eyes.
"We met at her bar, Ty always frequented it. This was before I was clued in, but there's lots of connected people there. Ty always likes to keep abreast of the local buzz... 'informations my game, kid'" The young man says in a Bostonian accent.
"Anyway a couple of weeks ago he called me up he had a job for me. After a bit of research, I got this ivory box for him. He said he had to store something in it. Some woman was paying him a pretty penny for it." he takes another sip of his beer; a faint honey smell wafts from it. Then his brow wrinkles in concentration....
"After I got the box... I had to leave it overnight... somewhere... where?" He doesn't seem to be lying, appearing genuinely confused.
"I picked it up the next day. Ty said he couldn't do it something to do with 'mortal' blood." Tim says the hint of a wry smile and a deep sadness touch his eyes. "Then, he told me that I had to keep it out in the light 'untouched by any hands' for a week and he would pick it up from Sara's last night."
"I cannot believe, he's dead. I know it happens to us all, some sooner than others, but..." Tim seems contemplating his mortality, looking resigned and dtermined. Sara taps him on the hand, to prompt him;
"This box or the contents do you think they are dangerous, I know it was important, even Larry enquired about buying it. But for someone to kill Ty over a box?"
As Tim has talked you can tell there are a couple of points he has omitted and certain subjects he would not touch deeply upon.
Poking about the house, Duana notices one feature which is missing, a treadmill. "Where is it you propose that we run?" she inquires, sculpted and painted eyebrow raised, trailing her fingers along Gelert's crown. "His speed is like to frighten mortals, and he's never known a leash," Duana hisses the word.
In a surly mood, Duana will curl up with each of the files, as it requires the least amount of interaction with the Frost Knight, and the alien environment. If he happens to object, she says nothing, but replies with a look that dares that he broach the topic of being unable to leave her because of his oaths to her mother.
Danny looks puzzled by a few things as Tim speaks, but doesn't interrupt. He taps his lips in thought for a few moments.
"To be honest Tim, I don't know if it, or it's contents, are dangerous. But I suspect I know who the buyer was. And let's just say that she deals with things that most of us know better and leave well enough alone." Danny shrugs.
"But it doesn't make sense for a buyer to kill the one who was getting them what they wanted. Best guess is that someone ELSE wanted the box, or its contents, too. Um, did Tybalt ever talk about another buyer for the box? Or did you notice someone else showing interest in it?"
Danny & Co.
Tim thinks for a second. "Yeah, I knew it were dangerous you don't get 10 gees, for snatching something worthless. Ty said only that the lass that commissioned him 'he wouldn't cross that bit of tail'. But there was another interested bloke. Larry Hughes-Smythe." Tim says in a posh voice.
"You want to watch out for him, he's got a bit of clout around here, he has a antique shop in 'the Shambles'. But you won't see him there; not during the day anyhow." He says significantly