LostRogers (lostrogers) wrote in shadowlands_ic, @ 2017-08-31 07:45:00 |
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Entry tags: | cassius corbet, elliot rogers |
Who: Elliot and Cassius
What: Inquiries and a warning
Where: The cèilidh
When: August 27th 1888
Ratings/warnings: Mentions of violence
Mingling brought Cassius near enough to hear the accent - American - and catch the scent - human - which was enough to pique his curiosity. There weren't many humans in attendance here, and as few foreigners.
"Good afternoon." Cassius interposed when there was a convenient lull in both his conversation and the American's, and offered his hand. "Cassius Corbet. You must be a guest of the lovely Mrs Nicnevin."
While Elliot was no fan of vampires in general (anything that used humans as food was suspect in his book) he tried not to pre-judge individuals. He tried to think of them like those unfortunate souls who were of African descent trying to operate in a world run by whites who didn't like them much. It wasn't their fault they were what they were. If they didn't break the law then he had no reason to treat them any different than he would anyone else. Easy to say and think, harder sometimes to put into practice.
Still, he took the offered hand and shook it firmly, looking the vampire lord in the eye. “I am indeed sir. Elliot Rogers, at your service. The lovely Mrs Nicnevin met me a few weeks ago and was kind enough to send an invitation.”
That brought a chuckle, already fond. "She does seem to collect interesting people. I'm not sure where we'll put everyone, when it comes to the actual wedding. Though as her friend, I can understand not wanting to be far from her, either."
Cassius took a sip of his armagnac and subdued the impulse to look for his bride. They would find each other again in due course. "May I ask what brought you together? And, indeed, what brings you to our shores?"
Elliot considered the vampire lord for a moment before answering. He'd read every scrap of information about Cassius Ravensworth and his coven he could get his hands on in the weeks between the invitation and now. The Stahls were being frustratingly hard to find, having obviously gone to ground, so it hadn't been hard to scrounge a few hours a week to go over the information about the Ravensworths. Everything he read pointed him to the same conclusion, reinforced by the crowd at the barge and his own personal observations that night: Ravensworth was a player, but one who operated according to the written and unwritten rules of supernatural society.
Trustworthy, up to a point.
“My work brought me to the old country, sir, and I believe your fiancé invited me here so I could speak with you. Is there someplace we can speak in relative privacy?”
Cassius' eyebrow rose, but he didn't otherwise comment. "We could ascend to the airship. I'm sure others wouldn't mind granting us some privacy. Do you have any difficulties with iron, or heights?"
Rogers was human, by all appearances, but one never knew. Fae influence could crop up anywhere, and Cassius liked to be hospitable. He glanced up the ladder to see if there was anyone above, and raised a discreet finger in the direction of the footman stationed at its base. If Rogers was amenable, they would have the viewing deck to themselves for the duration of their conversation.
“That’ll do nicely sir.” Elliot agreed readily. He didn’t have a love of heights, preferring horses to airships, but the viewing deck would do fine. The two ascended to the observation deck and looked out over the water, taking in the view of the river and the city on either bank.
He glanced back down toward the ladder, nodding approval at the footman positioned to keep others off while they spoke, then returned his attention to Lord Ravensworth. “I’m with the Pinkertons sir, Special Branch. Have you heard of any vampires arriving from the States in the last several months? We’ve reason to believe a Brandon Stahl and members of his coven have emigrated here. They’re wanted in connection with several murders and thefts of magical items back home, we suspect they’ve come here to try and build a new power base.”
Cassius frowned as Rogers identified himself, but it was concern, not displeasure; Pinkertons were the Americans' affair, and if they were here, it had nothing to do with Ravensworth business. As the man's next words seemed to confirm.
"Stahl," Cassius repeated, thinking back to lessons of history and politics. "It's not a name I know anything about, although it doesn't sound unfamiliar. I came over from France just a century ago; English family names, even among vampires, aren't my greatest strength."
The others would know more, which was likely why Cassius had been approached. Rogers knew he could make inquiries with the coven. "There have been rumors of some American cousins returning home. If they intend to build a power base, however, as you suggest...I believe they will find those currently holding it less than eager to be supplanted."
Which should serve as a statement, however indirect, of Ravensworth's position on the matter. If they could be useful, then the coven might use them; if they were only here to stir up trouble, then they would not be tolerated.
"May I ask," Cassius mused, turning his gaze from the river back to search Rogers' face, "if you troubled the Baroness with this news, and if so, for what purpose?"
“The home office asked me to investigate when the news of your engagement went public, just in case.” Elliot shrugged, unconcerned, though his next words were rueful. “I’m not sure who was surveilling whom though.”
He rubbed the back of his neck and remembered the encounter with Lady Una. “It seems she recognized that I had an encounter out west that sent me forward in time, though she was disappointed when I told her it was only twenty years. Since my cover was blown and your lady isn’t someone I want to have cross with me I told her why I was here.”
“Whatever brought the Stahls here sir, it wasn’t to be subordinates to another coven. They had a nasty reputation before the War and lost just about everything during it. We’re not sure why they decided to come here instead of heading to South America like some of the other Rebs did after the war, but given what they’ve stolen it can’t be good.”
Possibly true. Possibly not. But if Rogers intended to use Una to spy on Cassius and the Ravensworth coven, he would learn his mistake soon enough. Una was no one's tool.
The story of shifting in time was interesting, and worth asking Una for the details later, but not enough to distract from the subject at hand. Silky with warning, Cassius asked, "Just in case what, Pinkerton Rogers?"
Elliot’s eyes narrowed at the warning in the vampire lord’s voice. He wasn’t scared of the man, at least not more than he would be of any other mortal man’s threat, and didn’t break off his gaze or give any indication of unease. “Marriage of a Fae noble of your lady’s rank and a Vampire Lord is big news, Lord Ravensworth. Big enough to make the United States sit up and take notice.” They were a young power and focused inward on their own concerns, but they were growing fast and not ignorant of what was going on in the world. “The home office wanted me to see if there was any connection between the wedding and the Stahls arrival.” And whether the union was a threat to the United States in and of itself.
So Rogers had hoped to use Una as a spy, to dupe her into providing information rather than approaching any of the coven directly. Cassius didn't bother to hide his flash of contempt for such an underhanded act. It was a double-edged sword, however; in acknowledging that Una was no fool, Cassius also had to acknowledge that she had permitted Rogers to meet with him. Indeed, she had arranged for it.
"What did the Baroness wish us to discuss?" Cassius asked, cutting directly to the point.
A quizzical eyebrow was the initial response Elliot gave. “What I said, that the Stahls are probably here to make a move on one or all of the English covens. If you’re suspecting that I was trying to turn your fiance you’re mistaken. I’m not an idiot sir. Lady Una is older than this kingdom and the ones before it, and a power in her own right. I was gathering information as unobtrusively as I could before taking things to the next step and talking to both of you directly if I thought it was appropriate, but your lady was too smart for me.”
If the Vampires decided not to cooperate with his and Christophe’s investigation that would make things very difficult, to put it mildly. And the Night Watch would be upset with them and would make things even more difficult. Best to clear up any misunderstandings now.
That soothed Cassius' ruffled feathers somewhat; not just that Rogers claimed to intend to speak with him, but his acknowledgement of Una's worth. Hearing her respected put Rogers back, if not in Cassius' good graces, then at least out of his bad ones.
"You believe Ravensworth is a target," Cassius inferred. "And that the Stahl coven has stolen weapons of power to aid them in supplanting us. What is the nature of these items? How might they be employed?"
“Mostly ritual objects, for gathering power or summoning beings of power.” Elliot supplied. “I can provide a list later. I don’t know if Ravensworth is the initial target sir, but you’re a power in the House of Shadows. I reckon it makes sense they’d want to take you off the board as soon as they had the ability to get away with it.”
"I appreciate the warning." Cassius' tone was grave, acknowledging the severity of such a threat. "And are there actions you recommend we take, or that you have planned and we should be aware of?" He spoke for Ravensworth and the coven, not only himself; the plural was automatic, the responsibility of an elected position. Una was included in that responsibility too, now--but as Cassius and Rogers had both acknowledged, she was a more than capable woman, and Cassius would not speak for her unless she asked.
“They're a crafty bunch sir. If they were sloppy or dimwitted we’d have had them in custody before they had a chance to leave the US. I'd start with increasing your security, quiet-like so not to give away that you'd been warned. Also see if you can learn anything more about the returning cousins. It's in the interest of the United States that Great Britain remains stable sir, we don't need a civil war in your vampire community so we’ll be happy to do what we can to help prevent that.”
Cassius wouldn't call an upstart American coven declaring an attempted coup a civil war, precisely, but he nodded agreement, still studying Rogers' face. "No," he murmured. "I don't believe any of us want that."
He looked down at his guests on the barge, among them his future bride, and considered how best to get a message to the Ravensworth coven.
Elliot met the vampire lord’s gaze evenly. After the horrors of his country’s civil war he didn’t frighten easy, and a vampire’s scrutiny was no worse than staring at any other potential threat. Especially when that vampire was a public figure and had no reason to attack him.
“I’ll forward a list of items to your office at the House, if that’s agreeable. Or to whatever place you think would be most secure from prying eyes. You can contact me at this address.” He fished a card out of his vest with the Pinkerton office address and phone number along with his name. “If there’s any information you come across about their whereabouts I’d appreciate it very much if you let me know.” He nodded his head. “Congratulations again on your wedding.”