as we pass through arrangements of shadows

[shreds]

Comments

[praevaricatio]

( The sun cracks through the clouds as Ezra opens the trunk of the Adin-Gainor's vehicle. Shopping was both a gesture of good will for Jacqueline and an attempt at getting a few hours between him and Elena. He just needs to keep buying time. Collecting what he and his husband had packed, and a few shopping bags, he closes the trunk again.

He parked across the street from the compound, leading the way up the front walk, letting his husband and Jacqueline in through the metal door.

Once they reach the front door, he speaks in the Colony's tongue, an older pre-English English announcing the three of them and then he turns to David to do his thing. David has the power and the clearance to get them inside.

Once the door is open, they're presented with a far different architectural design than one might expect from the outside.

The member that greets them is dressed in a sequined black belted pencil dress. Allura, of whom David and Jacqueline are familiar, is higher echelon. One wouldn't think someone from this high up would greet members just checking in. Something might be wrong. The lobby isn't as bustling as it usually is, but it is also early in the morning. Or, this may have to do with the Adin-Gainors being the ones who are checking in. Or Jacqueline. It remains to be seen. She eyes the shopping bags, but doesn't say anything.


Except... "Good morning." )

[maleficum]

Good morning, Allura.

[David doesn't mind taking charge. Especially since their appearance seems to have directly summoned the manager. Jaqueline hangs back, bags dangling off her arms as she gives the woman a nod in return.]

Apologies for dropping by without calling but we found ourselves in a bit of an emergency situation.

[tramplemain]

Never apologize for not breaking protocol.

( Ezra shoots Jacqueline a subtle look. He may have been doing it to keep up appearances, but it's never bad to be in their good graces. )

As you can see, you're not alone in this. Executives aside, our ranks have been hit. Hard. We're still waiting for more members to check in and our internship program ( the taught witches the Colony recruits from the Ivy's ) is missing in action. Luella ( her assistant ) is late. ( and yes, to this group, that's something. luella has been punctual for centuries. She holds her palm over her chest. ) I opened this morning.

( Which is bizarre.

"So, it's just you?" Ezra asks. )

And you. Others are on foot. Some are unaccounted for. I think I said that. We were going into Lockdown, but I've received word that there are a few - high priority members my bosses want located. I don't know what you were expecting from the Baltimore compound ( and it leaves... a lot to be desired, according to her ), but luckily for you, you don't have to stay long. ( She's a New York girl. ) Should you accept the assignment.

( And make no mistake, David, Jacqueline, Ezra. It's known that when an assignment is offered, it's not turned down. )

[maleficum]

[Jaqueline rolls her eyes at Ezra, because she still believes she's above protocol. She also really doesn't want to take any kind of "assignment" without being able to take the temperature of her and Sierra's move, but she knows how the Colony works.

Acceptance is all but required.

David knows that as well, and he pauses before nodding.]

I think we might need a couple hours of sleep first, but what do you need?

[tramplemain]

( She can roll her eyes all she wants. And yes, assignments are given, at the most traded, but not turned down. )

Barnet Hallewell.

( A member of the Colony with old world sensibilities. His modernity only goes so far as to how he can use it to get what he needs. While infamous, he's not a name oft seen, more mentioned. There is a painting of him in the main headquarters. That he is their assignment does not bode well in David or Jacqueline's minds because this means either he's missing or dead.

Or a third possibility! But whatever the possibility, he's not who you want to get into business with. )

[tearhiseyesout]

That piece of shit?

[Yeah, Jaqueline is not happy about this turn of events. David gives her a look, and she gives him one in return, unapologetic. She turns back to Allura.]

Please tell me this is a firing situation.

[tramplemain]

( Her lips purse, always the executive playing her hand close. )

Locating. And, from there, assessing if he's in any danger. At that point, you'll be sent word for what comes next. But, the partners want him in one piece, not on fire.

[tearhiseyesout]

Fine.

[She won't set him on fire. But she wants first dibs if it takes a turn for that.]

Has he been here recently at all?

[tramplemain]

For years in one form or another.

( This is his territory. )

[maleficum]

[He can see where Jaqueline is going and while he assumes that those here have run basic locator spells and come up empty, a few personal items can't hurt either.]

He leave anything behind?

[tramplemain]

He isn't here. He wasn't here. Not in decades. I suppose you could check the room he used. But, he preferred his work done off our premises. He was always particular. The older order is rarely ever questioned.

( Which may clue the group into what Allura is looking for. Or, the partners above her.

"Sounds like Barnet lives his life on radio silent, what's changed?"
Ezra asks. )

[maleficum]

I'm willing to bet he went pissing in the wrong pot.

[Picked up a witch or chose a target that the true heads of power weren't fond of. Even the most connected fuck up eventually. He turns back to Allura.]

Send us any of his last knowns and we'll look into it.

[tramplemain]

( Allura neither confirms, nor denies. )

We can give you a few hours of respite. I'll send what we have, and the key to his room should that prove fruitful. And to make it clearer, Ms. Melroux, we'd like you to find him alive and keep him alive.

( It's the most pleasant threat she's probably ever gotten, but it should strike fear into her heart.

Arrangements are made, Jacqueline and the boys given adjoining rooms. The rooms are as ornate as the lobby. They would think that they were staying in a historic B & B meets this house's interpretation of Versailles with the random luxury. (Nobody needs gold fixtures, but they have them!)

An hour into their relaxation, a signature knock sounds at each of their doors. But, it's not a person, just an ancient acknowledgment spell (and a hoot to amuse the children), when opened Jacqueline and the boys will have two halves of a file (one the first half of his 'rein', second the fall of Barnet Hallewell and his ... retirement, and then a small old fashioned key will slide out of a small envelope. The room is in another wing.

His last knowns include snaps of this guy, but he's adorned in an obnoxious scarf and a collection of necklaces with stone pendants. He looks more like a wellness guru might think he should look for his adoring audience. A few miscellaneous pictures of various, what look like, civilians. A coffee shop meeting here, a tete-a-tete in a diner there. Nondescript people who have that 'nothing more to live for' look with a glint of hope in their eyes.

A brochure for the Horseshoe Casino and a key card for a room at a hotel across the street from the casino.

They can do a research check to see what they might find, do a search check to find his room, or decide to see either location. Or, discuss their options, of course.

When the Colony has felt like they've gotten sufficient relaxing time in, a familiar wake-up call, a light appears that burns brighter and brighter that culminates in a chirp and then disappears completely. A familiar, and very old school, call to action spell. )

[tearhiseyesout]

[David does opt for sleep, but Jaqueline doesn't getting to work so they can finish this and go home as soon as possible. She hates being out in the cold, especially when where she's most useful to this plot is in the inner circle.

But that's a problem for future Jaqueline to worry about. Current Jaqueline needs to find this middle man. She plugs the unknown's picture into her facial recognition program on her phone, pulls up a list of Hallewell's last knowns to browse through (16) and any other research she can find.

And while she's waiting for all that to populate, she texts her partner in crime, saved in her phone under some random name just in case. She sends over her picture of the photo with the message:]

This look like someone you know?

[ostensively]

Vaguely, but only because he looks strikingly similar to an actor I like. ( she got a (6) for knowing Luke Mitchell

as for Jaqueline's (16), there is nothing in her facial recognition program from the past twenty four hours, but several hits pop outside of the hotel she has the address for, and the casino most recently, but nothing past that. Hallewell's current stint in humanity has him at a generous 47 years of age. Luke Mitchell's facial recognition seems patchier than Hallewell's, like it almost finds him but changes its mind and keeps reconfiguring. With a (17) for knowledge, it's clear whomever Luke Mitchell is, he has high level magic on his side. Whether it's old or powerful or both, she doesn't know. )

Is he a person of interest?

[tearhiseyesout]

Ezra insisted on following protocol so if I want to go home, I have to ruin Hallewell's day. Unfortunately I'm not allowed to kill him, I just have to bring him in but David got the sense that he's pissed someone off.

[Which she might still enjoy, but she's still annoyed about it.]

The photo is connected to him somehow, but he's got major magic and is not one of Hallewell's usual lackeys.

[ostensively]

That mansplaining mummy?

I can see what I can find out, get back to you.

You're doing the Colony's dirty work? Which outfit did protocol take you to?

[tearhiseyesout]

Baltimore. Allura met us at the door. Apparently a lot of the higher ups are running scared.

[Which means things are working exactly as they intended.]

[ostensively]

But not Allura.

Be careful with Hallwell. He's got a mysoginistic streak hundreds of years long.

[tearhiseyesout]

Oh, I know. I'm more than willing to let David and Ezra be the face of this. The less I have to deal with him the better.

[ ... For Hallewell's likelihood of staying alive, not necessarily for the world.]

[ostensively]

Don't fade too much into the background. Help just enough, then get out of dodge when the time comes.

[tearhiseyesout]

I know. I'll be fine.

Everything okay on your end?

[ostensively]

Like clockwork.

[tearhiseyesout]

Good. I'll keep you posted how things go here.

[And in the interest of not having things get sappy, she checks her algorithm for any news before heading to see what the husbands are up to.]

[praevaricatio]

( Her algorithm has only found more blurs, but because of the spell, she doesn't get places or times because the algorithm reconfigures continuously.

Ezra, having also been woken up in the middle of the night, chooses sleep, so when Jacqueline comes-a-calling, he answers bleary-eyed, blond hair sticking in every direction. He opens the door just enough for her to let herself in before he turns the light on. )