as we pass through arrangements of shadows

[shreds]

Comments

[transientem]

[She swallows over the disappointment of not having a direct place to go, but she will take comfort in the fact that for now, he's still alive. At least there's something there to fight for.]

He's alive, but I can't tell where.

[That's mostly for only Kol to hear, but she's in the car with two other people with super hearing, so that probably doesn't stay between them.]

[tramplemain]

( It doesn't. Kol squeezes her hand.

Scott (15), Kol (16), and Jackson (18) are all able to navigate their way to the casino in question. Scott has gotten better at navigation, Kol is old enough and familiar enough and this has been Jackson's local haunt for three or so months now.

Located near the Arundel Mills indoor and outdoor mall, the parking lots and intersections are pretty bustling in the early evening, as they make a left at the signal and pull into the expansive parking lot. )

[transientem]

[Davina follows the directions as given, pulling into an empty spot as close as she can get to the doors of the casino. You never know when you need to make a speedy getaway.]

Should we divide and conquer? There's enough of us with super-hearing we could stay in contact.

[witchaffinity]

There is an entire casino floor to cover.

( He will go with what Kieran decides, as will Scott and Jackson. Jackson feels along for the ride, but he was asked. )

[transientem]

[Kieran nods, eyeing the building, before tapping the back of Jackson's seat.]

You come with me. The three of you stick together. We can work it from two different angles and see how far we get.

[illtempered]

( it takes everything in him not to swat her away, but she recruited him.

scott agrees, kol squeezes her hand once more, and they're leaving their parking space.

the casino is two stories, with two stories of casino and on the second story conference rooms you can rent out, a bar, a few restaurants, and the more private higher stakes rooms.

the casino floor is pretty vast, the lobby expansive of itself. a bouncer checks ID's at the entrance to the casino itself. there is a small shop, a bank of elevators, restrooms, and a back stairwell.

the sounds and lights ahead of them chime and blink. you can just hear money spilling away. )

[transientem]

[She scans the space, before glancing over to Jackson.]

Where does the mark usually spend his time?

[illtempered]

The mark, H, was mostly seen outside of, and during, the Glimmer of Hope meetings. He was Barnet's right hand. It wasn't uncommon for him to be on the casino floor. We think he was first contact for some of Barnet's victims. He would prep them, question them and fluff them. Barnet would seal the deal.

( So, he's not the best of help. )

There should be a meeting set for tonight. If he's still working for him, then he's be right outside Conference Room A.

[transientem]

Okay.

[She turns back to the rest.]

We'll check out the conference rooms, you guys cover the floor. Whoever finds him first, wins.

[That's a little more glib than she probably should be, but she's in a mood, what can she say.]

[witchaffinity]

( Wins as this person wins Kieran's wrath.

Kieran and Jackson head up one of the elevators to the second floor.

"A word of advice, you're running this like it's a revenge mission, not a rescue mission," Jackson says. He's always had a hard time keeping in his anger, his mood swings, but he knows where to put his energy now. And Kieran feels like a scary loose cannon. If he can talk a little sense into her, he think they'd be all the better for it.

Kol, Scott and Davina show their ID's on the casino floor. )

We should keep in mind he may or not be still playing his part. Has he shed his persona, he should be dressed much simpler, preferring the primary colors and a simple jacket. Unless he's dressed to the nines or in nothing. I'd rule out nothing.

[transientem]

[Kieran glances over at him, setting her jaw as she goes.]

Is there a difference? If Julian's okay, we rescue him. If not, we avenge him. Really, I see this as more of a fluid situation.

[And she doesn't have time to analyze it more than that.]

[illtempered]

If he's not dead, like you said ( werewolf hearing ) then rescue. It's a rescue until it isn't. Be methodical. Be smart. Barnet will play into your passion. He practically trips over himself for the desperate.

( harsh words, tai.

the elevator doors open. jackson gets a (6) for spot )

[transientem]

[Yeah, the problem is that Kieran is never not desperate. The nature of her life has made her desperate - and more to the point, it's what's made her brother desperate. They're already well past that point.

But she doesn't disagree with him, so at least there's that. Unfortunately, she's not really doing much better for spotting things (7).]

[illtempered]

( While it's obvious where a meeting might be taking place, neither Kieran nor Jackson recognize any faces milling about in front or inside the conference room. They're waiting for something, at least. )

[transientem]

[Waiting for something might be a good sign - she scans the room as she makes her way closer to the nametags, before a familiar face catches her eye (12). She pauses and taps Jackson on his shoulder, pointing towards "Alan" across the room.]

He was in your file, wasn't he?

[illtempered]

Yeah. Longtime time listener, long time caller. Alan Parker. He looks even sadder in person.

( If that's possible. )

[transientem]

[She grabs one of the nametags, scribbling down her name on it, before passing the pen to him.]

This guy has a tendency for the pathetic, right? Think you could help me play it up?

[illtempered]

( Ugh, he doesn't like being pathetic, but he can treat someone like they are. )

Yeah. Easy.

( He does have sympathy for what he thinks she's going through, from the stories Julian told. )

I'll follow your lead.

[regentem]

It would make him easier to find if he was.

[She's amused as she lets her eyes scan the room (12). There's a sea of people, it's making it hard to distinguish one from the other.]

Slots or blackjack?

[commend]

( Kol also gets a 12, so, Davina and Kol both think maybe they have a glimpse of him, or is that him over there?

But Scott's (19) hones right in. )

Slots.

( "H" sits where Scott points out, toward a secluded part of the casino. He is no longer dressed in his wellness worst, but a buttoned down blue shirt. he's shaved, too. but, that's the picture scott saw. a waitress hands him a tall collins glass of something and he watches her walk away, before sliding another coin into the machine. )

[regentem]

[Davina follows the line of his pointing, before nudging Kol to get his attention.]

Is that the guy?

[Just to make sure it is who Kol thought it was.]

[witchaffinity]

It is.

( In more clothes than he remembers and with a shirt buttoned up. But, it's him. )

Just sitting there out in the open.

( Because Davina is used to politicking, to witches currying her favor. This guy wants to be found, especially since he picked up the phone when Kieran called. )

[regentem]

Maybe he wants to be seen for a reason.

[She starts to step forward towards the man, glancing back over her shoulder.]

Should we say hello?

[witchaffinity]

Watching him will only bring us so much.

( More, like, barely. )

[regentem]

[Davina smirks, before making her way over to the slot machines. She picks one, and settles onto the seat, hoping that any middle man worth his salt would know the regent of New Orleans.

She brushes her hair over one shoulder, studies the machine and waits for the boys to join her.]