A bunch of young Practitioners eavesdrop on Lord Grey II

Characters in this scene: Justin (Inkstainer), Sophia, Lord Grey II, Justin Landis Jr, Lockbreaker, Leah, Shandak, Condor

Setting Location: Sanctuary

Sage (Inkstainer) — 03/28/2021

Sophia would see the two Justins approaching. The elder looks deeply concerned, glancing down at her arm and back up at her face, then waves at her and mouths "are you ok?" before pointing to the door. (Upon seeing Lord Grey II, he pales and takes a step back, bowing politely.)(edited)

MagpieNotMagpie (Sophia Parks) — 03/28/2021

~~*Ha! They could not even come to a consensus on what to do with a simple invader. Even now, humans cannot be trusted to decide amongst themselves.*~~ The Moth whispers, not in words but in the throbbing pain of Sophia’s Mark. She pulls up her left sleeve and sees that thorns of barbed wire are beginning to encircle the butterfly on it. Its wings, normally evenly split between black and white, are now mostly black. *Breathe Sophia, Breathe* *We can’t let it out. If we do, this party will go straight to hell.*

lordgreyii — 03/28/2021

Somewhere between looking down at her arm and looking up, the Fae Noble appears, sliding into place smoothly. His bearing demands obedience, and he nods sharply towards a ballroom door.

MagpieNotMagpie (Sophia Parks) — 03/28/2021

Sophia looks towards the Emissary, but they are already gone. ~~*Show us what you have learned child*~~

Landis963 — 03/28/2021

The younger Justin stops in his tracks when he sees the regal Fae appear. He brings his crystal necklace up to his lips, inhales, then flicks on his Sight, tracking a specific connection - his father's.

MagpieNotMagpie (Sophia Parks) — 03/28/2021

~~*We may rescue you if you so desire, but first we allow you this chance. Prove to us that you are more competent than you appear*~~ *You stole my fucking child. Don’t act like I chose to do this.*

Landis963 — 03/28/2021

When he finds it, he brings it to his lips and speaks to it in the caught power of the crystal; "Dad, there's something going down with a Fae. The one present here. I'm looking further, but please help." When Charles whirls around to catch his son's gaze, Justin will gesticulate wildly in the direction of Sophia and Grey.

lordgreyii — 03/28/2021

Grey follows Sophia into another room, not allowing them to be more than three paces away.

Landis963 — 03/28/2021

Justin snoops at the keyhole before deciding when to barge in.

BrokenLock — 03/28/2021

LockBreaker, having lost the trail on his preferred prey, is looking right over Justin's shoulder.

kaCHING\_CASH (Leah Malhotra) — 03/28/2021

Leah, disconcerted to find she can't even say anything, decides to just check out more interesting people. Oh hey, there's something happening!

Sage (Inkstainer) — 03/28/2021

The other Justin joins them, looking more than a little uncomfortable. He's holding a pen, now, that had previously been in a pocket.

Landis963 — 03/28/2021

He's trying to listen intently for what the Fae might be up to, when he turns around and notices the gaggle of people directly behind him. An instinctual, soundless "DAH!" erupts from his throat, and he startles into the door.

kaCHING\_CASH (Leah Malhotra)BOT — 03/28/2021

Leah looks back at Inkstainer, waves, and then turns just to see Justin crash into the door. "Oh wow are you alright—" she yells, then realizes she's no longer on mute.

Landis963 — 03/28/2021

"I'm fine!"

BrokenLock — 03/28/2021

LockBreaker chuckles. "Very discreet."

Sage (Inkstainer) — 03/28/2021

Justin puts a finger to his lips, then whispers to Leah and LockBreaker, "Lord Grey II went in there, presumably for a conversation - let's not interrupt them." Then he leans in closer to the door and listens.

BrokenLock — 03/28/2021

"Only since you asked nicely."

Landis963 — 03/29/2021

"What's going on, Justin?" Charles has arrived on the scene.

"Lord Grey II is introducing himself to that one lady in the black dress, and talking about how her 'patron' would know who he was, and it's kind of a skeevy intimidation tactic."

"She's not having any of it. I think she heard me earlier."

kaCHING\_CASH (Leah Malhotra) — 03/29/2021

Leah stage whispers, "Should we go in? I kinda want to go innnn. Right now."

BrokenLock — 03/29/2021

"I get bad vibes from whatever's around her. Her patron is probably someone mine has an issue with."

Sage (Inkstainer) — 03/29/2021

"I think that would be a really bad idea," Justin whispers. "Fae are scary."

Landis963 — 03/29/2021

"I don't knoooow. I wanted to meet her because she kind of looked scared like I did during that thing with the lumpy-looking practitioner and Oliver, and I thought we could help each other a bit."

BrokenLock — 03/29/2021

"Mhm. I get even worse vibes from that Faerie. I messed with him a bit over OMO but I don't think I can get away with that in person."

Sage (Inkstainer) — 03/29/2021

Justin shoots a shocked glance at LockBreaker. "You *what*? *Why*?"

BrokenLock — 03/29/2021

"Ah, you probably didn't hear me introduce myself. Call me LockBreaker, Chosen of Mother Anarchy. If that doesn't explain it, then..."

kaCHING\_CASH (Leah Malhotra) — 03/29/2021

"Waiiit a minute. Are you the person who was getting on my case cause I was asking for money earlier? I remember you cause you didn't even have a manifesto? What kind of anarchist doesn't have a manifesto?"

Landis963 — 03/29/2021

"An anarchic one, I would suspect." Justin blurts out.

BrokenLock — 03/29/2021

"Oh, that was you? And I like that line, I might use it some time."

Sage (Inkstainer) — 03/29/2021

Inky smiles and takes a deep breath. "Nope, that explains it, and that trick you used." He nods. "I'd hate to see him turn you into a lamp, so I'd recommend staying out of his way if you can."

BrokenLock — 03/29/2021

"Thanks. I'd hate to see just about anyone turned into a lamp, honestly. That's why I'm hanging around right now."

kaCHING\_CASH (Leah Malhotra) — 03/29/2021

"Okay look, you didn't answer my question! I mean don't you know Proudhon or Pierre or Kazinsky or whatshisname, any of those people? Don't you carry around those books and worship them? I thought anarchists were into that kinda thing."

Sage (Inkstainer) — 03/29/2021

Inky gives a shocked glance to Leah.

BrokenLock — 03/29/2021

"I've read Proudhon, Malatesta, and Kropotkin among others, but I absolutely do not worship them. They had good ideas but they're of the past, and if ideas don't evolve they die. I try and take the best of all of those ideas and make them my own."

"Also Kazinsky? Really?"

Landis963 — 03/29/2021

"ooooooh shit Things are escalating."

kaCHING\_CASH (Leah Malhotra) — 03/29/2021

"Well if you've read all those people why don't you have your own manifesto? I don't get it. The famous anarchists I know have manifestos. Like if you don't have a manifesto, it's like you're not a real anarchist, know what I mean?"

BrokenLock — 03/29/2021

"Because I'm not much of a writer, to be honest. I could talk your ear off about my ideas but I don't have them written down."

Landis963 — 03/29/2021

"She just ripped off her sleeve and there's a thorny tattoo and it's *pulsing* and she's ranting about the Fae's conduct to his face."

kaCHING\_CASH (Leah Malhotra) — 03/29/2021

She sputters. "But that's, I mean, that's stupid! How are you going to build your newer and better utopian society if you don't even have rules and guidelines for it, unless you're just burning things down for the lulz oh and wait what's happening in the other room? Should we go in now?" Her hand edges towards the door.

BrokenLock — 03/29/2021

"I'm not sure if we should act or not. I'm worried that we'll either wait and be too late or go early and make a bigger mess of things. Also, I don't really expect to be the architect of a better society. I'm just an agitator and I don't know that I'd have a place in the society I want to build."

lordgreyii — 03/29/2021

"Gentlemen, it is rude to eavesdrop."

Landis963 — 03/29/2021

"DAH!"

BrokenLock — 03/29/2021

"I don't let that stop me, as you might know."

Sage (Inkstainer) — 03/29/2021

Ink jumps back, a guilty look on his face. "Leah, do *not* go in, *please.*"

Landis963 — 03/29/2021

"It is also rude to corner an invited guest in a secluded room when the aftereffects of a breach of hospitality are yet metaphorically reverberating around the room, Lord Grey." Charles has a slightly amused look on as he pulls Justin back to his feet.

kaCHING\_CASH (Leah Malhotra) — 03/29/2021

Surprised at first, she rallies when Charles starts to speak. "Uhhhh yeah, it kind of looked like she was in trouble and you were maybe going to do something horrible to her? So maybe you definitely shouldn't at all and maybe you should just leave or whatever?"

Landis963 — 03/29/2021

"Peace."

"Lord Grey, unlike the odious lump we were just discussing, *is* an invited guest. If the lady in question consents to more time in his company, *sans* Glamour, we can of course desist our well-intentioned investigations into her safety."

"If nothing else we should cease crowding the door."

lordgreyii — 03/29/2021

"I suppose I should feel vaguely offended that you could think that I would violate hospitality, what with the *large* number of Practitioners who have been warned of me specifically, it does not come as a shock. Posturing, young ones, is not a violation of hospitality, and Glamour is a part of my very being."

Landis963 — 03/29/2021

"I'm sorry." It's Justin talking. "I was scared. Still am scared, really."

BrokenLock — 03/29/2021

"I'm here to watch. I don't trust you, you know I don't trust you, and a Fae lord intimidating a young woman is something I'd like to keep an eye on."

lordgreyii — 03/29/2021

"As you wish."

Of\_Deep — 03/29/2021

"Greetings, children. Why do you huddle about the door, speaking with the Lord Grey II?

BrokenLock — 03/29/2021

"Concern for another he's talking to, mostly."

kaCHING\_CASH (Leah Malhotra) — 03/29/2021

"Also cornering a person like that gives off shady vibes you know? Like maybe that's not the kind of thing I would personally do because it's just weird and creepy maybe? And also you said GENTLEMEN when I AM A GIRL and NOT A GENTLEMAN—wait." She notices the Satanesque figure approaching and yelps. "Who are you?"

BrokenLock — 03/29/2021

LockBreaker is doing an amazing job not showing how completely strange he finds Of\_Deep.

Of\_Deep — 03/29/2021

"I am Shandak, whom you might know as Of\_Deep. And you are?"

Sage (Inkstainer) — 03/29/2021

Ink winces a bit - "Generally I would recommend not calling a Fae Lord weird or creepy, even if you're thinking it-"

BrokenLock — 03/29/2021

"I wouldn't recommend it either, but I'll do it. Lord Grey comes off as creepy and weird in this situation."

kaCHING\_CASH (Leah Malhotra) — 03/29/2021

"Wait Of\_Deep, oh you're the person who maybe offered me good advice that one time? Aren't you an Abyss guardian or something?" She turns to Inkstainer. "Also yeah! What that guy said! He was acting totally weird and creepy in my opinion and, and I think Fae in general are kinda weird and creepy because they like go about stealing kids or whatever you know? I mean isn't that just like horrible? Ugh."

Sage (Inkstainer) — 03/29/2021

"It is, but it's also unwise to say such things within the earshot of powerful people who might be offended." He looks pained. He does not want to be turned into a lamp.

Of\_Deep — 03/29/2021

"Indeed. Having an opinion does not require stating as much."

BrokenLock — 03/29/2021

"There are limits on what should be said, but I don't think criticizing power is one of them."

Of\_Deep — 03/29/2021

"Additionally, it is presumptious of you to assume that simply because some fae are known for stealing children that it is a trait which all of them share."

Landis963 — 03/29/2021

Justin is now looking very awkward at having triggered all of this.

BrokenLock — 03/29/2021

"Mmh, yeah that's the sort of thing I wouldn't imply Lord Grey does."

Landis963 — 03/29/2021

"We may be overreacting. Even if it were our place to ride to the lady's rescue - and it may not be by her accounting - I would find it most unnerving to leave one fraught situation and walk straight into a gaggle of concerned Practitioners and Others, including but certainly not limited to the Abyssal guardian who is the very image of Classically-depicted Satan. Can we at least spread out?"

Of\_Deep — 03/29/2021

Shandak laughs, and it is a deep sound, with just a hair of doom in it.

OctaneDoctor — 03/29/2021

Condor, having finally raised the courage to ask Of\_Deep some questions about the Abyss, wanders in the direction the Abyss Guardian took. They stop promptly upon seeing the crowd around the door, and catch Inkstainer's eye from down the hallway. *What the fuck?* they mouth silently, gesturing.

lordgreyii — 03/29/2021

"I do believe Fae trigger what Men call an 'uncanny valley' effect. My kind look very human but subtly *off*. It does not surprise me that some find my kind 'weird', though I might advise being more careful with your words around Fae in general. Many are not as kind as I. Could you, Abyssal Guardian, take these young ones elsewhere?"

Of\_Deep — 03/29/2021

"Indeed. Come, children, to find better things to do than listen in on the business of a Lord of the Fae."

Sage (Inkstainer) — 03/29/2021

Justin looks at Condor, looks back at the group around the door he's taken a step back from, and takes a few more steps back before walking over to Condor. Quietly, he says, "The Fae Lord is talking to some woman, and..." he grimaces. "The others can be indiscreet."

BrokenLock — 03/29/2021

"Indiscreet is not my middle name, but it might as well be."

Landis963 — 03/29/2021

"It was my fault." The younger Justin had followed. "She looked a bit shell-shocked after the thing with Oliver and that ranting guy, and I wanted to talk to her, see if we could help each other with that, and then Lord Grey *appeared* and whisked her off to that room, and I panicked, and it all sort of snowballed."

OctaneDoctor — 03/29/2021

"Ah," Condor replies, then, "I... see. That sounds like something I don't want to get tangled up in. I should probably just go to bed. But uh," (and here they activate one of Sanctuary's privacy charms,) "Inky, we should talk later, about that potential favor from Yubi. Many things I've heard tonight make me very interested in paying a visit to the Abyss, and the City seems like one of the safest way to do that and return in one piece."

Of\_Deep — 03/29/2021

"That is an acceptable reaction, for one as young as yourself. However, you now live in a world where it is difficult to judge by appearances. The appearance of fear does not always indicate its real presence."

BrokenLock — 03/29/2021

LockBreaker wanders off, humming a tune to himself.

Landis963 — 03/29/2021

"I know. I didn't think to scan her to find out."

Sage (Inkstainer) — 03/29/2021

Ink nods at Condor. "Let's talk about it later. I'd be interested, too." He turns back to the shrinking group and sighs. "It... seems like there might have been no harm done. He did come up to her and us suddenly."

Of\_Deep — 03/29/2021

"Young one (looking at Condor), had you intended to ask me something, before?"

MagpieNotMagpie (Sophia Parks) — 03/29/2021

Sophia bursts out of the room. Not a word is said to the watchers as she quickly hurries to the exit. She’s obviously upset. She whispers her apologies to the Homunculus at the door before departing. The Emissary is nowhere to be seen.

OctaneDoctor — 03/29/2021

Condor turns to Of\_Deep, startled at the sudden attention. "Oh! Yes! If it isn't too much trouble - I was wondering, well - Abyss guardians like you, they keep people from leaving the Abyss, right? What about, like, inanimate stuff? Does the Abyss care if someone takes, like, a bunch of junk that's just sitting down there because it's lost all its connections?"

Landis963 — 03/29/2021

Justin turns around, reaches a hand out, opens his mouth... and can find nothing to say. He lets his hand fall, lamely, as Sophia passes the Homunculus doorman.

Of\_Deep — 03/29/2021

"Frequently, the Abyss takes advantage of such junk to fuel its own designs, reworking and remaking it into various beings, constructions, and landscapes. Even the spirits of such things are not free from such molding. It is unlikely to care anymore than it would were I to allow one to pass anyway, as they with regularity carry with them the influence of the Abyss." While saying this, he reaches out and pats Justin's arm, that being what he can reach.

Sage (Inkstainer) — 03/29/2021

Ink watches her leave and sighs, looking at Justin. "I wish we knew more about what happened there, but... thank you for trying."

OctaneDoctor — 03/29/2021

Condor, sensing that something emotionally weighty has happened but lacking context, decides to bow out, thanking Of\_Deep for his answer.

Of\_Deep — 03/29/2021

Shandak nods acknowledgement.