morebooks (morebooks) wrote in shadowlands_ic, @ 2017-12-29 18:24:00 |
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Entry tags: | adrien green, una nicnevin |
Who: Adrien Green, Una Nicnevin
What: Adrien is in need of some advice
Where: The Baroness's London House
When: 29 December, 1888
Rating: PG
The last time Adrien had come to visit the Baroness, it was upon her invitation, and while they’d had a heady conversation about the current goings-on -- one where he’d felt, above all, as if he’d been listened to, he was still more than a little uncertain of his place within the sphere of influence occupied by the Lady and her husband.
Partly, it was because he wasn’t used to having a place to begin with -- he was a vampire without a coven, a man with few friends or connections to speak of, who’d been widowed for half a century. Nevertheless, this tentative relationship of sorts was a connection he hadn’t quite realized he’d been missing before he’d met them.
Now, it was his turn to request an audience, full aware he brought little with him of value, and two potential problems that needed counsel to boot -- he’d heard nothing that could serve Lady Nicnevin regarding the Stahls, nor the device Lady Shiverthorn was seeking, and he was a touch nervous as a result as he reached up to knock on the door at the appointed hour, dressed in his second-best suit, carrying a small book of folk tales he’d tracked down in an antique shop and wrapped in paper for a Christmas offering.
There was a proper ritual to the entry with the great houses, involving presentation of the card and seeing whether the mistress of the house was 'at home', which she proved to be. When the servants led Adrien into the library where she was waiting for him, Una rose to greet him. Clearly the room had been redecorated to her taste, for it was all in winter colours, lights and pales, and some of the ornaments were perhaps made of ice.
"Be welcome, freely and without obligation," Una said, completing the ritual, and they were left alone.
"It's such a pleasure to see you," she continued, her smile open and genuine. "Please, sit, and let us enjoy each other's company."
The Lady Nicnevin was fearsomely handsome and ethereally beautiful, and seeing her without glamors, closest to her true form as she was comfortable displaying in the human realm, could be quite breathtaking.
He’d had some passing knowledge of the Kingdom (mostly picked up in snatches, and via folklore -- the Institute was sorely lacking on accessible materials regarding non-human races -- intentionally so, he suspected), and it was patently clear she was a member of the Winter Court, in her full element. That he should be so warmly and familiarly received by such a woman remained a surprise, but he accepted it with as much grace as he could manage.
He nodded, in what was not quite a bow, and presented the small wrapped gift. “Lady, I happened to see this, and thought of you. Please accept as intended -- a token of my appreciation, without expectation of reciprocity. It is that time of year, after all,” he added, taking his own seat after she did.
Una's face lit up--and in the winter, in the fullness of her power, that was almost quite literally so--as she took the small token from Adrien. "You are so kind to think of me, even in this season," she said, and opened it, sighing with delight at the book as it was unveiled. "I shall read it starting this very night, and it will find a place of honour in my library." Which was as close as she would come to using the forbidden words and concepts.
"Shall I call for iced wine, or tea?" These were the proprieties, although at least with Adrien, as with the Ravensworth clan, Una did not have to worry that she was going to freeze him by keeping things at the temperature she truly desired.
“An iced wine would be fitting, I think,” Adrien replied, doing his best to gather his wits after allowing himself a moment of basking, and reminding himself why he was here to begin with.
He knew there was a certain delicacy around asking for favors, and wondered whether this qualified, and if so, what the price would be, but when he got to the heart of it, if there was a price to be paid, he’d pay it and gladly to be able to wade through the tangle Miss Ward and his place of employment each presented with a certain degree of grace.
“I very much hope that you and Lord Ravensworth been keeping well,” He said, knowing it was often said as a part of an attempt at small talk, but in their case, he actually did mean it. “And I offer my sincerest congratulations on the occasion of your marriage, since we spoke last.”
"Your kindness is much appreciated, and I will convey it to the Earl." The modern custom of referring to her husband by his title was still a little odd to Una, but the manners and mores of the mortal court were important since she had chosen to live here. Surely in another century the rules would have changed back again.
Una waved to her servants, who were present always, even if not visible, unless dismissed, and they set off to bring iced wine for Una and Adrien. Now that they were truly alone, she could ask. "And how are things with you? At the library?" Usually she would ask about friends, but beings such as she and Adrien had few true friends to ask after.
“I find myself in a rather odd position, on that front,” Adrien replied, leaning forward in his chair. “The more I learn of certain aspects regarding the organization, the less I care to work there, but in order to learn enough to enact real change, I must stick with it. And it remains a place where there are significant resources at my disposal, where I can be challenged and have a station I would not otherwise.”
He frowned a little. “I am currently following a string down a rather lengthy rabbit-hole, and I find myself dreading what I should find there, and am clueless as to what might come of my suspicions.” Raising his eyes to look over at Una, he paused, a little uncertain. “I should like very much to know your thoughts on those suspicions, among other matters, as I respect your opinion, and believe you would wish to be kept apprised,” he said, carefully.
Una frowned slightly at Adrien's careful wording. "I know that technically you cannot drown, sir, but we must be careful for you to not get in too far over your head nevertheless. Tell me about this rabbit-hole and we shall discuss whether we have found a rabbit or a badger or a snake. Or something worse."
Adrien paused, and huffed a little, his frown cutting two well-worn lines on either side of his mouth.
“...What if I were to tell you that the Institute had a hidden cell within it that had housed a creature for nearly fifty years?” He asked, quietly. “Kept in secret, experimented upon in any number of ways. Not any more,” he added, “I’ve made certain of that, but I suspect… I strongly suspect that the creature in question was not the first, nor might it be the last so held and so experimented upon should the opportunity arise.”
His shoulders dipped. “The cell was in place before the creature arrived, and the door was made of iron,” he added, quietly.
Her control was very good, but Adrian could see the twist of rage and horror in Una for just a second before she smoothed her composure. "What kind of person have they kept in that room?" she asked, and her voice was cold as the grave.
If it was one of their kinsmen, she and Mac would tear the Institute to shreds and salt the ground it stood on.
There was a brief pause where Adrien weighed his options -- there was a reason he hadn’t disclosed Merrick’s identity, after all -- but it was a reason he was certain Una would comprehend, and handle delicately.
He nodded his head, his mouth a thin, sober line.
“A djinn, Lady,” he said, quietly.
"This is not acceptable." Less horrifying than if it was one of their own, kept in pain and sorrow, perhaps even the parent of the girl who didn't know her own identity, but still unacceptable. "You say the djinn is ... no longer being experimented on." Una did not ask the obvious question, but there were definitely fates worse than death and situations in which it might be a mercy.
“It is not, no,” Adrien replied, carefully, “nor is there danger of the creature’s absence being noted. I’ve made certain of that too.” He paused. “You can imagine how such a being, in the hands of those who would…” his frown cut into his face. “I had wondered, before, how the Institute could have made so many advances so rapidly.”
There was a distinct pause as he looked down at the table. “I was born into slavery,” he said, his voice low and careful. “I find such circumstances… it is not something I could keep my peace over. And should there have been additional cases, I…” he exhaled. “I should want something done.”
Una was already calculating what they could and should do about the suddenly very large and looming problem that the Institute represented. "Who else knows of this? Besides you and the djinn, whom I hope has departed these shores to a safer place, or found other respite."
“The djinn keeps its own counsel,” Adrien replied, “but I can’t imagine it would’ve disclosed much to anyone. Of the ones I know of, we both agreed to tell Mac -- it knew of him, and trusted him, as did I. And my co-worker, Miss Eleri Lloyd, of the Summer Court, provided some assistance. She’s agreed to help determine whether there were additional occupants of the cell, as well,” he added, a little darkly. “Needless to say, I’ve been quite careful of her well being of late.”
"While technically she is in MacRuadh's remit, I would take it ill were she to vanish right now. Also if you were to do so. It seems as though they employ those who might not be missed if they were to vanish," Una observed. She had been sitting still as a statue, or as a being of ice, and only now did she relax a little. "You would not have come to me without a plan, or some idea of what you meant to do about the Institute, beyond 'ask her to destroy it utterly'. So what in specific are you seeking aid to do?"
The same point had occurred to Adrien more than once, after he’d found out about Merrick -- that those at the Institute (or at least the few who knew of his true nature) would see him as an easily controlled figure -- a token that they could trot out with next to no connections to speak of.
He shook his head. “I hope to learn more, to gain a better sense of the issue -- how deep the rot goes, what they know, in addition to a full accounting of the horrors they may have inflicted, and upon whom, in the pursuit of that knowledge.” He paused. “I am no… I am one man, Lady, a man of little consequence, and this particular windmill seems far bigger than what I would be able to manage on my own. I can discover the particulars, tease out as much of the picture as I can manage, discover the guilty parties, and what they may be guilty of, but as to what I might do with it… I am not certain I would have the right to determine their fate, if it turns out that one of your people were held there, for instance. And if it was done over fifty years ago, the perpetrators themselves may be long-dead. There may be nothing the written law could do. But I would…” he looked over at her, a quiet resolve in his expression. “I would lay it all at your feet, for whatever greater justice you would see fit,” he said, quietly.
“I apologize for not knowing more,” he added, “and for bringing this burden to you so… incomplete and uncertain, and asking you to share it.”
Her chill hands reached for his and took them in, in a pose that in other times might have symbolised homage or vassalage. But that time was past, and they were who they were; now it was only a gesture of friendship. "I needs must take counsel on this, with Mac and with the Earl. It is too great for any one alone, and--" she pondered the war between the vampires and the wolves "--may have greater import than either of us knows yet. But I am glad you have brought this to me, and trusted me with it. I would not share your identity; if you are suspect and they are prepared--" she left off there, because if they were ready for a djinn, they would be ready for a single vampire as well. And Adrien could surely imagine worse fates than she could for him.
Adrien nearly blurted out his thanks, which would have been ill-advised, but he could feel a weight lifting off his shoulders, and he nodded in agreement and relief. “I will be certain to pass along everything I discover, and to ensure the information I pass along is indeed fact rather than mere suspicion. And… and I shall take what care I can, especially as it relates to Miss Lloyd, of that you can be certain. I have also taken steps to pass along what I do discover should I be compromised.”
"Your precautions are wise; keep them updated," Una suggested, and was about to add more when she realised that Adrian was not finished, and let him continue, since he was clearly anxious.
He paused, then, a little embarrassed. “...I’m afraid I have a second query, Lady, although it is far less troublesome, and more… a personal matter, where I am not quite sure how best to proceed, if you would grant me your ear for a little while longer.”
Una nodded and inclined her head, gesturing to Adrien to continue.
“There is a young scientist I have been assisting. She’s doing research on metal allergies, driven in part by her allergy to iron, so I suspected her to have a touch of the Fae in her family’s history. There was an accident, she cut herself in my presence -- Lady, she has the blood of a high Sidhe, and I…” he frowned. “I was taken by surprise, and revealed my nature to her.”
He looked over at her. “She appears to be wholly ignorant of hers still, although my existence has raised some questions, and I’ll admit, I am not certain how best to proceed.”
Una listened, and at the end, nodded. "You speak of Miss Arabella Ward."
He paused, and nodded quietly. “And you,” he added, quietly, “are the woman who visited her.” It sat right with him. “I was hoping it would be you.”
"I do not know her ancestry, other than the obvious, but she has become a matter of concern to me in the current situation, and Mac is also aware of her and his obligations as a representative of the Courts, should she require his aid. But I intend to reveal myself to her sometime soon." Una smiled, and while it could not be said to warm the room, it was definitely not a frigid expression of displeasure. "I would have done so already. She has set a foot into the world beyond what she knows already; it is time for her to walk fully on our side of things. You have done well to bring this to me, but the matter will resolve itself soon enough. And your care for her speaks well of you, and frankly relieves me a little. Miss Ward may need friendship that I cannot provide at some point in time, and you have already earned her trust."
Adrien nodded his head.
“I am her Librarian,” he replied, quietly. It was a title Arabella’d given him, and one he took no small degree of pride in. “I am glad to hear she shall soon be hearing from one of her own, and such a one as you, and I shall continue to provide whatever assistance she may require. She has a most extraordinary mind and spirit both, and it is an honor to witness.”
He cleared his throat, looking over at Una. “I have only known you and the Earl a few scant months, but my life is significantly better for it,” he said, a little awkwardly. “You both have shown me a respect and kindness I was not expecting, and I cannot… it has meant more than I can possibly say.”
Una was still smiling, and reached for Adrien's hand again. "That you are not respected for your wisdom and learning is a sign of the state of the world. Having lived in the past, I am careful in my nostalgia for it--" Una smiled again, because there were many things that had not been better in the past, both for her and for others around her "--but I respect the knowledge that comes through a lifetime spent in study. And wonder at those who do not. I am glad to call you a friend, Mr Green. Selfishly glad."
He placed his hand to cover their clasped ones, a sudden thickness in his throat. “Likewise,” he replied.