bitten_notshy | De Ulloa-Priest Residence, London, Wednesday Afternoon (Reply)

Jack had been prepared for an argument with Sebastien over why he'd summoned guests to their townhouse, but he hadn't gotten one. It seemed as though Sebastien's main priorities were getting David to head off again and solving the murders -- in more or less that order.

It was unsettling, to see him so preoccupied. But it did make the day easier.

Emma Grace Frost	Emma was walking into a conspiracy of murder and vampires, in another universe, of her own volition, at the behest of her -- at the behest of Jack and his vampire. And it didn't even seem strange anymore. Somewhere along the line this had become her life, and if she thought about it, she might laugh herself sick. Still, she tipped the cabbie handsomely before going up to knock on the door of the Notting Hill residence.
Karla, Queen of Glacia	"A witch, a telepath, and a vampire all walk into a bar..." Karla muttered behind her. "Not exactly how I planned my next visit here, but I find myself hardly surprised by the circumstances." Honestly, as far as things went? This was practically a social call. And Karla was just fine with that. It was nice to be needed for something that didn't have 'end of the world' tagged onto it.
Emma Grace Frost	"It's Jack," Emma murmured back, bemused. "I think 'interesting circumstances' is how he keeps himself entertained without us to give him headaches."
Karla, Queen of Glacia	"Everyone needs a hobby," Karla said with a small chuckle. "Poking his nose into gruesome things is Jack's. Maybe he's hoping to convert us, so he gets interesting circumstances and headaches at the same time."
Jack Priest	"Emma," Jack said softly, pupils wide in relief. Sebastien was wise enough to hang back for this particular greeting. "I'm glad you came. Ready to solve a murder or two?"
Emma Grace Frost	"Who knows?" she replied lightly, giving him a bright smile and slight shrug. "Perhaps my habit of devouring horribly trashy mystery novels shall finally come in handy."
Jack Priest	Jack snorted. "Just don't expect the exact clue we need to turn up and free the wrongfully accused butler," he warned her. "Though I suppose wrongful accusations are less of a problem with you about."
Emma Grace Frost	"Just point me in the direction you want me, and I'll be your sneaky little spy," Emma promised. "I can't keep an ear out on the whole city," - yet - "-but whomever it is won't go unchallenged for long."
John Mitchell	The reason Mitchell felt even vaguely comfortable coming here was... well, it was twofold. One was that things were laying relatively low back in Bristol at the moment, and the other was that-- well, he was hoping to get at least a glimpse of Carl while they were here. A few vampire murders weren't really enough to make him jumpy. So he was looking fairly casual, hands in the pockets of his purple jacket.
Jack Priest	Jack glanced to Sebastien for the barest second before getting the door this time, but Sebastien shook his head: Jack was welcome to answer the door, no vampire-to-vampire conference needed. "Hello," Jack said at the door. "Come in, please. It shouldn't be hard to figure this out, but -- I'd rather have some extra help."
John Mitchell	Mitchell had barely managed to find a hole in his schedule to come here. Not that he was about to whine about that. "Yeah," he said instead, vaguely, and stepped through the doorway into the room as soon as the invitation was out of Jack's mouth. "Anytime."
Kate Gregson	Kate... was honestly not sure why she was here or what good she could do. Still, Jack had asked her to come so here she was, standing beside Mitchell with her arms folded loosely over her chest. She had her knife in its sheath under her jacket, though it was way more for psychological reasons rather than any intention to use it. Maybe she'd be Jack's designated regular human moral support, she mused.
Jack Priest	Jack needed moral support; it made him feel slightly less useless when everyone else busted out the superpowers. "Thank you for coming," he said quickly. "I'm glad to have you, even if I wish you'd come for the first time when there weren't people being killed."
Kate Gregson	"Well, that would've been far too boring and normal," Kate drawled, then shrugged a shoulder. "I'll do what I can to help." It was that pesky, vague sort-of family thing.
Sebastien de Ulloa	Once all the guests had made their way into the living room, Jack and Sebastien took a moment and explained a bit more about the murders of the two young men: Their shared profession (prostitution), the method (overkill), the gossip (vampire attacks). As they finished, Sebastien produced a box containing several garnet rings in varying sizes and began proffering them to the girls. "It marks you as part of my court," he explained. "Please wear it, if only for my comfort."
Karla, Queen of Glacia	Karla eyed the ring that Sebastien was offering. It looked rather small. "This doesn't count as any kind of agreement, right?" she asked. "Just a warning to others that we are under your protection?" She liked Sebastian and adored Jack, but she wasn't about to be in anyone's Court but her own, thanks. ...And Jaenelle's, but that was different.
Sebastien de Ulloa	"I wouldn't presume to force anyone into an agreement through trickery," Sebastien reassured her. "It's a warning should another of the blood come calling, nothing more."
Karla, Queen of Glacia	"I didn't think you would," Karla said, turning the ring over in her hand. She idly wondered how many Blood males believed the same thing before the Ring of Obedience was slipped over them. She did believe Sebastian. But she'd needed to ask all the same. "There's no one in the city that will challenge that claim?"
Sebastien de Ulloa	"I'm very old," Sebastien answered, surprised but pleased by the question. He needed humans with some savvy around him. "That would be respected, unless things got far more dire than they're likely to."
Emma Grace Frost	"Dangerous words," Emma quipped, sliding it on without a tantrum or even a hint of distaste. There were more important things to deal with than her own issues over pretending to be property. "Careful, Don Sebastien, you never know what is listening." She presented her hand for inspection, to make sure she was wearing it correctly. "My compliments on guessing my size so astutely."
Sebastien de Ulloa	"Jack gets the thanks or blame for that," Sebastien said, with a light smile. "We were lucky to have the right rings for all of you."
Emma Grace Frost	"Blame, then," Emma decided. "For if we give him too much credit, then he'll be insufferable for a week." It was said with fondness, Jack, she promised.
Karla, Queen of Glacia	"But tweaking his nose for that week is so much fun!" Karla said brightly, before glancing back at Sebastien. "Anything we shouldn't do while being marked as your court?" she asked, sliding the ring on her own finger. "Obvious stupidity aside, of course. But I don't want to accidentally do something that might make you lose face." She'd prefer to know which rules she was flagrantly breaking, thanks.
Sebastien de Ulloa	Sebastien ran a hand through his hair. "I know you all may have some negative experiences with my kind," he admitted. "Keep them to yourselves if the subject arises, but don't get drawn into arguments defending us. Change the subject, if you can. And don't seem too knowing in public. They can't arrest me anymore merely for being a wampyr, but I still like my privacy."
Emma Grace Frost	"So no kicking anyone, try not to insult the stupid people too obviously, and for all that's holy, no magic in a crowd unless we're trying to get them out of a burning building," Emma translated helpfully for Karla. "Same rules as when you're with me, darling." Still, part of what Sebastien had said had tickled her mind, and Emma regarded him thoughtfully. "So they can't arrest you 'merely' for being here, but I take it there's nothing to stop them from making something up? Is that common?" And did they need to worry about being watched whenever they left the house?
Sebastien de Ulloa	"They wouldn't just make something up, but they wouldn't stray far from it," Sebastien said, matter-of-fact. "The murders have them jumpy." He glanced to Mitchell and added, "Carl should be fine,as long as he keeps his head down.""
John Mitchell	In his little corner of the room, Mitchell tried not to look like he'd been too worried. (Considering his complexion and general sense of restraint, he'd been moderately succesful at it too.) He did nod once, though, and went back to examining... god, hadn't he seen these when he was six?
Kate Gregson	Kate took the offered ring without a word, and slipped it on, then eyed her pale hand with its new adornment. The ring was pretty, if she didn't think about why she had it. Otherwise, it was just mildly uncomfortable. If she needed to wear a ring for protection, well. It was a pretty firm reminder that she'd put herself into a situation where protection was needed. Again. She was starting to lose count of the times she'd done that. But she kept that to herself. "Well, this doesn't go at all with anything I'm wearing," was what she actually said, half muttering the words.
Sebastien de Ulloa	"I always thought red was the most neutral choice," Sebastien said, not entirely seriously. "It will do for now, though, won't it?"
Kate Gregson	"I guess," Kate replied with the slightest shrug. What did she know, really? "I'll wear it anyway."