Breaking the Veil

[Rush, to the waitress who brought the news, Adam and Jacob.]

RUSH:
Rush narrows his eyes at the "fay" comment, but starts walking over to Cyrus. He looks even more ill at the waitress vampire's news.

"Dead? And I'll take it the psychopath hasn't figured it out yet... God, how large scale of a mass brainwashing are we talking about?" He gives "Cyrus" a look of mild distaste, crossing his arms. "I thought that's the kind of thing mages love." He softens a little, as it occurs to him that next to the werewolves, he's probably better suited to be the Good Cop. "Still, I'm starting to feel rather sorry for this one... It'd be a shame to kill this body, since it's not just Harvester's."

((Note to GM: I would like to try my Fleeting Spring contract, Cupid's Eye to try and detect Harvester or Cyrus's desires.))

Adam doesn't quite pale, but his face grows grimmer and grimmer the longer the waitvamp keeps talking.

Think, Adam, think! All hell is going to break loose right now. No one else is here to deal with it... but what can I do?

Suddenly he barks, a short, sharp laugh. "Cat's out of the bag, dollface. There's no putting it back in. An explosion this size is going to shake everything up. Larry!" he calls.

The skinny kid dressed all in black hops up and rushes over, pale as a sheet. Adam grips him by the arm and says, "See if they have a computer here you can get on to. Can you shut this thing down?"

Larry shakes his head, then his words come out in a rush, "It depends on how much information is leaked already. You can pull the conspiracy theory bullshit, but that's only going to go so far, and if people really have seen magic and---Adam..." he looks miserable, "this is exactly what we're supposed to be fighting against and..."

Adam squeezes his arm, "Listen, I know you want to free the information and all, but if the world finds out about vampires and werewolves, it's not going to end well for anyone. Okay? Just do the best you can." He claps him on the shoulder and sends him off.

"Rush," he turns to the fay man next to him. "What do you think? I don't know if this can be contained, or if we should even try at this point. Is there anything you can do?"

Leaning in closer, he points at Kalynn and asks quietly, "Isn't your friend a member of parliament? Maybe she could make a statement or something."

((Harvester and everybody around him, y'all~))

While Harvester showed no trace of emotion at any of the comments around him, he does raise an eyebrow at Rush's words. He even stops his muttering to say, "The merboy has a point. Cyrus does, in fact, know a few individuals who may be able to assist in your problem."

He sighs, more for theatrics than because he's tired, as he continues digging his knife into the waitressvamp. "As we said, however, we're limited. Our ability to perform magic is weakened by these wards, and we cannot access enough of Cyrus' memories to recall who may assist you." A lie, but no one here knew that. No one knew what he was--not even Cyrus--and that was both his advantage and downfall here.

"So, how about this: you continue your meager questioning. You wait for Cyrus to return. And, while we wait, no one takes our skin, and perhaps we can all help each other. That's all we all want, right?" He smirks slightly and adds, "We wish to help the dead, and you wish to help the living. Theoretically, we needn't fight each other to accomplish our goals, yes...?"

For all his lack of feeling, Harvester honestly hoped this would work. Losing his human vessel would be most inconvenient, especially with so much death around...

Larry rushes over to wherever Alexander is, all gawky knees and elbows, barely symmetrical. He adjusts his hat and, without making eye contact, asks, "Sir, do you have a computer I can use to get on the internet and try to contro--" he coughs, "control information about the... the..."

With all the grace of a panicked rabbit, he stops there, stumbling and stuttering over his words.

((OOC note to Rush: the contract doesn't work, but you do learn something important - details in your inbox!))

((OOC note to Rush and Adam: does ANYONE else want to roll to see if they know anybody with mind-control powers?))

"Gogorin Rasputin is currently unaware of the situation," says the waitvamp, "and Mr. Alexander would prefer to keep it that way. In the best case scenario, the news would llikely send him into a murderous rage, in which case everybody within this restaurant and outside it would be in danger. In the worst case scenario, he could ascend to fill the Black Prince's empty throne. And the hypnotism would need to be extremely large-scale - across all of London, in fact - and it would need to happen soon. Or, alternately, we could stop time for long enough to get all the inhuman bodies out of the way, but to our knowledge the only non-Godly entity currently possessed of that power is resident in Baja California, Mexico. We would be unable to travel there and back in time."

Adam slams his hand down on the table between him and Cyrus/Harvester, his fingernails, seeming unusually long and sharp, chopping partway into the wood.

"Listen, creep. If you can do anything to help, speak up.

"I don't know who or what you are, and I don't much care, but we've both got problems here. I've got the problem of a city about to go haywire, and you've got the problem of a very mean man over there ready to take your skin, or the next best thing.

"If you make yourself useful enough, maybe we can solve both our problems, and everyone can walk away happy.

"Start talking."

((OOC: got to go to bed... be back in the morning...))

((This is an interaction between Claire, Constantin, Rufus, Officer Thompson, Officer Morgan, and some random cops!))

((OOC GM's note to Kaila: you know you can use your dad to post too, right? He's a shared semi-NPC - you and I can both use him.))

"Nothing you need to worry about, sweetheart," says Officer Thompson, frowning and pulling her a little closer to him while he turns back to his fellow officers. "I...shit. Maybe I can call her mom. But, really, are you sure there's not time to bring her back home?"

The other officers shake their heads, forcefully. Officer Morgan is still watching Constantin.

[Rush, to the waitress vamp, Jacob, Adam, and Harvester, with frantic waving in Kalynn's direction.]

RUSH:
Rush groans, rubbing a fin over his eyes. "I really, really hate to say it, but Adam's right. We're royally fucked, unless there are some mages that can really come through, but at this point, Ms. Worthington is probably our best bet. And, ah, I hadn't met her until today." He motions frantically over at Kalynn to come join them, then gives Cyrester a withering look.

"Could you explain to us why you can't just relinquish your hold on him, temporarily? Because Cyrus going through Cyrus's memories sounds a lot more efficient, and also less likely to get the body you share punctured, if you know what I mean."

((Note to GM: I'll roll to remember any potentially powerful enough changelings, just for the halibut.))

"We could walk her home," Constantin volunteers before he really knows what he's doing. "Or to the station, or something." The girl doesn't really seem to want to go home at all, and that's still pulling at what good samaritan strings he has.

After a moment he glances to the... eager... Officer Morgan and adds, "We promise to look out for any... vampires."

He tries to strike a balance between looking like he could fend off any vampires and like he's a harmless, well-intentioned schoolboy who could no more do something hinky to his daughter than understand someone from the East End.

And... bombings? He'd been paying so much attention to getting away, that he hadn't had a lot to spare for specifics. He spares Rufus a quick, worried glance. If there's been a terrorist attack, they're probably stuck here. Grounded.

((ooc: HALIBUT LOL))

((This is a conversation between Harvester, Rush, and Adam))

Harvester eyes Adam's clawed hand in interest, distracted enough that he actually removes the knife from the waitressvamp in case Adam becomes more of a threat.

"We cannot voluntarily switch with Cyrus at will," Harvester admits, starting to show a faint semblance of annoyance. "Only when he is particularly stressed can we grab control, and as of yet, we have yet to figure out how to relinquish said control. However, you are lucky that our time is almost up." Prodding the waitressvamp's remaining eye with disinterest, he explains, "In a few moments, Cyrus will have control again, and can assist you. Of course, we're sure he'd be more willing to do so if he didn't have guts dripping onto him, if you know what we mean." Because, while he'd get the waitressvamp off himself, he's a bit preoccupied with something.

"As for Rasputin, please do not worry about him taking the Prince's throne, or taking my skin. If nothing happens to Rasputin momentarily, however, we ask that you tell Cyrus to mar Rasputin's skin before he mars mine. We're sure he'll understand."

Once he's finished speaking, he resumes his mutterings once more. He's obviously paying them much more attention than he is any of his other surroundings.

((This is an interaction between Rush, Cyrus, Adam, Jacob, Jacob's goons, the Summer Wolves, the waitvamps, and possibly Kalynn, although I have no clue whether or not she's actually coming over to be a part of this.))

The waitress does NOT get up off Cyrus/Harvester, or even look like she heard him. One of the other waitvamps does speak up, however, looking vaguely concerned.

"Conspiracy theories are all well and good," he says, "but there are at last count over 4,000 nonhuman bodies lying around the grounds of Heathrow Airport, including dragons, a unicorn, the Respectable Ick, and the Winged Hounds. Emergency crews have already converged on the scene, and are even as we speak hauling the bodies away for inspection. Any conspiracy theory will remain incredible so long as the bodies remain in the hands of the government."

((This is an interaction between every damn cop in the game so far, Claire, Constantin, and Rufus))

Officer Morgan's eyes narrow, as do those of Officer Thompson, and Officer Thompson puts a hand on his gun.

"Say, you two never did mention what you were doing when you got lost down here," says Morgan, tone still light and friendly, despite the officers behind him shifting subtly to block any escape out of the alley.

((This is an interaction between every damn cop in the game so far, Claire, Constantin, and Rufus))

"Just wandering before catching our plane, but London's a lot bigger than St Andrews, it turns out!" Constantin says, still easy-going, trying to seem as relaxed as possible. It's all just a misunderstanding. He's from a very small town, where people do such dangerous things as trust strangers. He meant no harm, just a bad habit picked up from nigh country living.

((OOC: Blatantly willing to roll presence and persuade, over here. Ack!))

((This is a conversation between Harvester, Rush, and Adam))

Adam listens to Harvester with a stony look. When the speech is done, he glances at Rush while the waitvamp is talking. Finally, he looks at the injured waitvamp, and the guts dripping onto Cyrus/Harvester's face. His own features twist in distaste.

He glances at the other waitvamps and, experimentally, tries giving them orders, "You two, remove that one from Harvester's grip. You, get a wet towel and clean up his face. Cyrus may be back shortly, and he's the only one who might be able to help us."

He narrows his eyes at Harvester and says, "Before you go... do you appear only through Cyrus, or do you show up in other bodies as well?"

[Rush, to Adam and waitress vamp.]

RUSH:
"I'm sorry, Adam, gimme one sec." Rush grimaces apologetically, but maybe it's for the best, while guts are getting cleaned up. He touches the waitress vamp's shoulder a little hesitantly, hissing "Can I have a quick word?"

[This is an interaction between every damn cop in the game so far, Claire, Constantin, and Rufus]

Claire

In contrast to Officer Morgan and her father, Claire's own eyes widen. "Dad," she hisses, staring up at him with large and--yes, truth be told--fairly naive eyes. "What're you doing?!"

Officer Thompson's mouth tightens, though he keeps his gaze firmly on Constantin and Rufus. "Claire, come stand behind me, sweetheart," he intones, the firm tone of a capital-p-Parent underlining his words.

Perhaps not the best time for preteen temperamentalism, but it rarely is. Claire stares up at her dad incredulously; a quick glance to Officer Morgan reveals much the same tightness 'round the eyes. She takes a partial step forward but no more. "But..." She cuts a look to the two teens, then back to her father. Her mouth parts, though no words come out yet. The expression, however, is one of a clear if rather odd sort of betrayal.

Just being protective, or you're turning into... like Mom? She finally made some form of friends, and now--her hand tightens around the card still clutched in her clammy palm. She doesn't notice as the corner bites into her skin. Blargh, cardboard cuts are the suck, totes gonna regret that later.

((This is an interaction between every damn cop in the game so far, Claire, Constantin, and Rufus))

Constantin's tongue darts out and wets his lips, nervously, as he glances to the upset girl. "Of course. Our apologies; we simply... hoped to help, forgetting we were, in truth, strangers when faced with the chance of playing at white knight. It's been a long time since anyone thought us a stranger." He tries to placate, with a smile he hopes is naive and young and not too broad as he tears his eyes away from Claire.

And where she's managed to... hurt herself.

((Waitressvamp, to first Adam, then Rush))

The waitressvamp offers a cool look to Rush from where she remains, crouched over Harvester/Cyrus, and inclines her head slightly without moving any of the rest of her body at all. "Certainly, sir. About what would you wish to converse?"

Behind her, a watvamp bows to Adam with equal smoothness.

"A wet towel will be fetched immediately, Alpha Morningkill. However, I am afraid Master Alexander has ordered us to secure the bar against all violence. We will neither let go of the possessed mage, nor leave you alone in his company, until told otherwise."

((This is basically an interaction between Jacob and Adam, although it's happening near Jacob's betas, Sam, Kay, Rush, Cyrus, and all the waitvamps))

After watching Adam get shot down by the waitvamp, Jacob slouches up off the wall from where he's been watching the scene progress.

"Well, Beta Morningkill? Are you finished pretending to give orders like a real wolf yet? Or is anyone here actually going to come up with a PLAN to deal with this disaster, instead of sitting around making sure the sniveling homicidal mage is COMFORTABLE!?"

He slams his fist down onto the table next to Cyrus's head, hard enough to crack the marble. The waitressvamp doesn't move, or flinch away.

((This is an interaction between Alexander, Sasha, and Larry, who has just broken through the privacy curtain of their sound-warded table-nook to ask for a laptop.))

Fortunately both for Larry and for everyone else in the bar, stumbling through the curtain does not break the hearing spell, and as Larry sticks his head through into the table nook he can hear all the noise from the bar go silent behind him. He can't hear anything at all from the outside world, but he can suddenly hear Alexander and Sasha's conversation, which up until now has been completely inaudible to anyone else.

"-must tread carefully for the transition-" Alexander is saying, urgently, to Sasha, but breaks away to turn and frown at Larry.

Larry, without making eye contact, asks, "Sir, do you have a computer I can use to get on the internet and try to contro--" he coughs, "control information about the... the..."

With all the grace of a panicked rabbit, he stops there, stumbling and stuttering over his words.

((OOC note: yes, I stole that text from a previous post. Consider all of the above basically flavortext to try to give you guys a better idea of how the 'private tables' work. Basically, anything within the area of the nook can't be heard by anyone else in the restaurant, and anyone inside the nook can't hear anything going on outside it. That means none of you can actually HEAR the past conversation, either what Alexander said or what Larry asked. For the purposes of canon, it DIDN'T HAPPEN.

This, for everyone that's not Larry, is what DOES happen:))

There were curtains pulled across the front of Alexander's and Sasha's nook, but Larry has just pushed them back, and now you can all see what's going on, although you can't hear anything anyone is saying. Larry windmills out after he gets to the table, clearly sputtering. Alexander thrusts an iPhone at him, and he's about to leave, when Sasha stands up to snarl something down, angrily. There are a few seconds of conversation, and then Sasha sits back down again, Larry and the phone are shoved out of the nook again, and the curtains snap closed.

((This is an interaction between everyone who is currently standing in this goddamn alleyway. You know who you are.))

"You were going to Heathrow?" Officer Morgan's whole body tenses, the friendly smile fading away, and he takes a step forward, cutting off the last angle Rufus and Constantin have available through which to flee. The mouth of the alleyway is now officially blocked with cops. "Maybe you'd better come with us when we go question Alexander."

He looks around the alley, then down at Claire, then nods to himself decisively. "Actually, maybe we'd all better go see Alexander together. Your daddy doesn't have time to take you home right now, sweetheart."

Officer Thompson frowns. "I've called her mother, she should be coming to get her."

A look of deep sorrow passes over Morgan's face as he looks at Claire, but he shakes his head and sighs, turning aside to talk to Officer Thompson in a slightly lower tone.

"You and I both know we don't have time to wait for that, Rhys. I hate the thought of dragging a child into this mess - much less your child - more than I hate the thought of dying. But every second we delay is another second that villian has to flee justice. And we don't know that he's going to be violent. He's evil, but he's canny. Half the force knows I came here tonight, and I've got a recording device in my pocket - if that vampire dares to try anything, he knows he's going straight to ten years in solitary, and he won't risk that - I told you, they die without blood."

Officer Thompson clearly wavers for a second, but eventually nods and pulls out his cell phone. "I'll text Hyacinth anyway. Maybe she'll get here before we get too far into searching the establishment."

Officer Morgan smiles at Claire, and crouches down to hand her a cross. "Would you be ok with that, sweetheart? You think you're brave enough to come with us to talk to the vampires? You need to be very quiet, though, and stay with your dad. You do everything he tells you."

((This is basically an interaction between Jacob and Adam, although it's happening near Jacob's betas, Sam, Kay, Rush, Cyrus, and all the waitvamps))

"Oh, great plan! Smashing the furniture! Why didn't I think of that!? Come on, Jake, if you have a better suggestion, spit it out. I don't know anyone capable of that level of mind-control, time travel or whatever other bullshit. Do you?

"The only person here who might be able to help is the mage. If he can't, he might know someone who can. They can pull shit the rest of us couldn't even dream of.

"We don't have time to fight with each other. If you've got a plan, I'm all ears. Until then, can you please calm down and cooperate?"

Adam looks up, alarmed, at the interaction between Larry and the two elder vampires. When Larry comes stumbling out, clutching an iPhone, Adam calls, "Larry!" but the younger wolf shakes his head and wanders off into a corner, hunched over himself and mumbling into the iPhone.

[This is an interaction between everyone who is currently standing in this goddamn alleyway. You know who you are.]

Claire

Claire nods dumbly, taking the cross with cold fingers. "I...yeah. Yeah, I'm brave." She looks at her dad, who's currently busy texting her mother, and finally settles on staring straight into Officer Morgan's eyes with her own dark, unblinking ones. Where there should be fear shining there rather miraculously isn't; there's something, though--sadness? anger? Her mouth tightens.

"Officer Morgan?" she asks quietly. "Are...are people going to get hurt?" She's not quite sure if she means the not-quite-strangers behind her, the assembled cops, herself, actual-facts-strangers inside, or yes.

((This is a post affecting EVERYONE IN THE DAMN BAR. If you are in here, you know who you are!))

Those of you who can sense magic can sense something seriously wrong - some feeling like magic, but twisted somehow, rotten - growing and twisting around Cyrus/Harvester as Jacob speaks. Before any of you can figure out what it is, though, the mage has lunged out and stabbed the werewolf's fist, so hard that the knife blade goes straight through bone and is driven into the now-cracked table.

When he looks up, you are shocked to see that his eyes have gone totally black.

((OOC note: Think SPN demons!))

Twisting himself upright, tossing the gutted waitressvamp easily to one side, Cyrus reaches out a hand toward the alcove where Alexander and Sasha are seated, talking.

Three things happen simultaneously: those of you with magic sense the wards failing, and another huge rush of that dark, sickly energy twisting around and through Cyrus as he casts a spell. All of you, however, notice Sasha go suddenly rigid and stiff, freezing mid-roar as he stands up from the table.

His eyes have gone totally black as well, and he's smiling. He turns to the door with a sigh of contentment, and simultaneously, he and Cyrus/Harvester stand at attention and intone, "she comes".

(((....DUN DUN DUN!!!! :D :D :D ))

((This is a post to all characters in the restaurant))

...And then Cyrus's eyes fade back to normal. His cat comes running up to him from across the room, yowling, and starts rubbing herself lovingly against his ankles.

He looks confused.

Adam falls backwards out of his chair, then scrambles to his feet and backpedals to stand in front of the other members of his pack. He grabs Larry, who is still not paying attention, and shoves him with the other two.

Just as they are about to break for the door, he sees Cyrus' eyes fade to normal. Adam pauses, equally confused.

((What about Sasha? Is he still all dark-eyed and scary? What about Jacob? Is he about to attack Cyrus? If so, Adam will attempt to grapple and stop him.))

"Er - just an idea officers? If you're planning on taking her," he nods towards Claire, with a slightly forced smile, "to somewhere with... vampires... perhaps a plaster or something? I know I'm not the expert but it seems like going to an... evil vampire bar owner," he tries to sound believing and blase, "bleeding, is not the best plan."
"And if you're taking Rufus and I, perhaps you'd like to let us in on what is going on first? If we're to be shackled to your side."

((This is an interaction between the alleyfolks))

Officer Morgan freezes from where he's crouched beside Claire, going absolutely still. Slowly, he finishes hanging the cross around her neck, and then turns around to stand in front of her, putting his body solidly between her and Constatin. He levels his long stick, eyes going steely and distant as he very obviously braces himself for combat.

"Son," he asks quietly, voice as quiet and serious as a grave, "you want to explain just how it is you know the girl's bleeding? Because correct me if I'm wrong, but no human should be able to see a papercut on the side of somebody's thumb from ten feet away down a dark alley."

"I gave her the card, remember?" Constantin says, in complete calm. "I noticed the cut then. Hardly seemed important, till now."

[This is an interaction between everyone who is currently standing in this goddamn alleyway. You know who you are.]

Claire

Claire goes rigid as she's pushed behind Morgan, eyes drifting to her hand then back up to stare at the back of his head. Oh. She is bleeding.

Her gaze cuts to Constantin, neither judging nor condemning, just...curious. Ever so curious.

((This is a post for the alleyfolks! Morgan to Constantin))

"Uh-huh," says Morgan, slowly. "And I suppose, just like Alexander, you wouldn't be at all bothered if I were to...say...cut my own arm open?" He holds his wrist out to one of the fellow cops, who - looking kind of embarrassed about the whole thing, but resigned - pulls out a knife and holds it over Morgan's wrist. This is clearly a routine that they've practiced before.

((This is an interaction happening in Alexander's, currently involving Adam and Jacob))

Jacob doesn't throw himself forward at Cyrus.

Jacob wavers on his feet, going pale all over from blood loss, and faints.

Borogris steps out in front of him and pulls out his sword. Those of you within a three-foot radius notice: it's glowing slightly.

"Idiot," sighs Borogris. "He's going to get himself killed."

"I wish he would," says Kat, standing a little ways away from them, looking miserably sincere.

"Of course I'd be bothered. Self-harm should never be taken lightly. I understand that holding an icecube can help quell the urge. Thankfully you should be able to find some of those at a bar," Constantin drawls, beginning to get a little irritated by this point.

"Besides," he locks eyes with Morgan, sobering enough to say, soft and sincere, "We're your allies; we don't want any harm to come to you, not even at your own hands."

Adam unconsciously shifts his weight forward, asking, "Does he need help...?" His eyes flick to the hand, still leaking blood, with a faintly worried expression.

Kay turns pale at the sight of the blood, and Sam holds her. Larry goes back to being completely absorbed in the iPhone. Nothing short of imminent peril will distract him, and even that only barely managed it.

((This is an interaction between everyone in the goddamn alleyway. You know who you are.))

"Of...of course," says Morgan, shaking his head slightly. To the other officers' obvious surprise, he pulls his arm away. "I'm terribly sorry, that was rude. Here, have a cross to protect yourself. And when we go in, try to stay behind me, all right? It's not likely that Alexander will attack us, but I don't want to take any more risks than I have to. Rhys, stay to the back. I want you and Claire able to run if you need to."

With that, he hands his last two crosses out to Rush and Constantin, and strides forward toward the small black door at the end of the alleyway without so much as a blink. The rest of the cops, still looking suspiciously at Constantin, shuffle along behind him as a very definite unit, making sure Constantin and Rush have no easy way to run.

((This is an interaction between Adam and Borogris))

Borogris looks grim, then indecisive, glancing from Jacob's prone figure to Adam and back again.

"He wouldn't thank me for saying this..." he says, tentatively, "but if you could find a doctor, that might be best. I think he might be bleeding out."

[This is an interaction between everyone who is currently standing in this goddamn alleyway. You know who you are.]

Claire

Claire drifts back towards her dad, wooden cross thumping softly against her chest.

Rhys Thompson's expression softens as he guides his daughter by the shoulder to stand behind him, into 'safety'--as if such a thing truly exists. "Sweetie, you just stay behind me, alright?" Officer Thompson is back as he stares intently at Constantin and Rufus, a tired edge to his demeanor already. "You two will protect her if things go sideways?" The question's more statement than inquiry, the upward inflection thrown in for strained politeness. Claire makes a face behind him.

Constantin lets Rufus take the crosses, if they're really going potentially into combat or something he'd rather his hands free than superstitious magic. Though, honestly, what the hell kind of cops are these, dragging children and civvies into suspicious locations and waving guns while talking about vampires!

"Certainly," Constantin promises, though he's not certain how much protection he can provide. He's hardly going to abandon a young girl to either a)monsters or b)crazy people, however, so it's an oath he'll easily give.