Halloween GP

[londoncallingmods]

The weather today had been fairly pleasant, a mostly sunny day wedged between fairly grey ones. It wasn't warm, but the chill was minimal for this time of year, and there wasn't a drop of rain in sight. As night crept in, however, the streets slowly faded from sun kissed and painted in autumnal colours, to foggy and damp. An odd thing, really, since the forecast had predicted a clear and pleasant night.

It wasn't normal fog either, it was denser, thicker, and it carried an distinct scent, like cinnamon sugar and chestnuts. It was so thick it seemed to drain the streets of their colour, leaving the wold desaturated and grey. More importantly, anyone with a bit of magic in them would sense, quite quickly, that it wasn't of this world. It crackled quietly with power, dark and heavy. Unfriendly.

It was around nine pm that the local police stations began to receive calls, things they assumed were pranks at first, but soon began rolling in so quickly and frequently that it seemed something more was afoot. The evening news spoke of mass hysteria, warning people to stay indoors. Conspiracy blogs were lit up with chatter of chemical warfare, and some 'airborne drug'. There were reports of people seeing everything from long dead loved ones, to killer clowns.

Though despite the nervous chattering of talking heads and twitter addicts, most people were paying the supposed danger no mind. Clubs and bars on every block were blasting music and throwing costume parties, people were out with friends, wandering the streets and looking for a fun time. It may have been Monday, but that didn't seem to be stopping many people from enjoying the holiday.  

For the most part, everything seemed fine. ...The crowds and groups remained oblivious to the danger of the fog. ...It was only those who slipped off on their own, to have a quick smoke, to get some air or head home early. They were the ones in danger, they were the ones who's darkest fears seemed to emerge from the thick fog. 

Around 10pm, reports started to come in regarding a body found in Whitechapel, cut open wide and left to bleed out. No prints at the scene, no signs that anyone else had even been there. The CCTV footage had somehow been rendered useless, glitched out and blurred. A trouble echoed by every other security camera on the street. It was enough to set twitter and the internet off all over again, with talk of how the things seen in the fog might, somehow, be real.

(Happy Halloween! The fog is bringing fears and spoops to life! You can make the creatures and fabrications of the fog as personal or general as you like. Whatever works best to spook your pup. If, for any reason, you don't want your pup to see any spooks, that's totally fine too. It's not a required plot. Unlike last year, this time around the creepy things your pup might see can harm them and do real damage. Though they will vanish in the morning. If your pup is sensitive to magic in any way, they might sense that this magic is distinctly fae. If you have questions about what you can or can't do, just ask in slack! Though really, the only limit here is your imagination. Remember to check with other players before doing anything that might seriously hurt their pup, ect, ect, and have fun!)

Comments

[trustearned]

Michael turned back around and looked at the state of his wound. Still not fully healed, but as long as he was careful, he hoped that it would not bleed again. He pushed out of the chair, his ruined shirt still hanging open on his frame. "Do you mind if I dress this?" he asked, stepping towards the bathroom.

[kersen]

"Go ahead," said Kersen, having not noticed until then that Michael was awake.

When he'd left he'd put on a pair of loose fitting trousers, so he bent over and pushed up the trouser leg so the could check on his own wound. It had closed entirely now, leaving only a red scar that might be gone by morning. Or it would be now that he'd had fresh blood from a willing victim in the bar.

[trustearned]

Another buzz from Michael's phone reminded him to check it, and he saw, with relief, hourly texts from Cesare Borgia. Good. He answered the latest, then set to finding a compress and bandages. He cleaned the wound with some disinfectant, just in case, before bandaging it, then walked back into the next room, his ruined shirt in his hand. "Can I borrow something to wear?"

He doubted any of Kersen's dress shirts would suit him, but a simple t-shirt would do the trick, even if it would jar with Michael's suit.

[kersen]

"Sure," said Kersen, and went into his close to grab a plain black tshirt, something he thought Michael wouldn't find too objectionable.

Still shirtless himself, he walked over and handed it to him. "How... are you? You're not leaving are you?"

[trustearned]

Michael had been going to, but partly because he didn't expect that Kersen would want him to stay. He checked the time, then answered, "I can stay a little while." But then he would have to check in with his boss.

[kersen]

Michael hadn't answered the question about how he was, though Kersen took that to mean he was at least somewhat better. Kersen for his part looked much better, with slightly more color to his face.

"I just wanted to make sure you're okay."

[trustearned]

"I'm fine," Michael assured him, and gingerly put the shirt on. He did not wince at the twinge of pain, but could not completely keep it from his eyes. But then he simply met Kersen's gaze. "I might not be, without your blood."

Yes, that was a thank you.

[kersen]

Kersen softened a little.

"I'm glad I was there," he said.

And then hesitated. "You wouldn't have let him kill you, would you?"

[trustearned]

"I don't know," Michael answered honestly. "I wasn't thinking."

It could have gone either way, really. His survival instinct might have taken over. He doubted it, but it might have.

[kersen]

Kersen stepped forward and lightly put a hand to Michael's cheek. "Tell me that you would not actually ask me to sacrifice you for him. Even the real Cesare."

[trustearned]

"I wouldn't ask you," Michael replied. He would do it, and that would be that.

Not that he would do it happily. Once dead, he couldn't do anything for Cesare anymore. But Cesare had earned his loyalty, and Michael would do what it took to fulfill his job.

[kersen]

That response was slightly too cryptic to appease Kersen. But he didn't know what else to say.

"Good," he said. "Because I do not value Cesare Borgia's life over yours."

[trustearned]

Michael could have let it rest there, but he disliked lying - unless it was for a job. "I wouldn't ask you, because it isn't your decision to make."

[kersen]

"It would have been tonight, if that was the real Cesare," Kersen said.

[trustearned]

"It wasn't," Michael pointed out, since he had to.

The real Cesare would never have cause to go after Michael, if he had a say in it.

[kersen]

"Yes, I'm aware," Kersen said with a little sigh.

Then he said, "I'm sorry, Michael. I don't mean to..." He wasn't even sure what it was that he didn't mean to do. "It was upsetting, is all."

[trustearned]

"Yes," Michael confirmed, to acknowledge both Kersen's upset, and his own.

[kersen]

"I don't feel some... competition with Cesare," Kersen said after a moment. "I know how important he is to you." Kersen had never asked Michael if he was in love with him. He didn't want to know. "It's you I care about."

[trustearned]

"Then care about my job," Michael said, very simply. To his mind, anyway.

[kersen]

"This is more than your job," Kersen said. He could not believe otherwise. Not with how... imprinted Michael seemed to be on Cesare.

[trustearned]

"My job is my life." There was a hint of warning to his voice. He didn't know where Kersen thought he might be taking this, but Michael had made it clear a while ago that there were some things he would not discuss.

[kersen]

"Right," said Kersen. It made Cesare Borgia seem like some kind of god.

He wondered how things would have been different if he'd taken up with Cesare, as things seemed to have been going at some point. Before he'd met Michael, before that would have been... awkward. Probably Michael would have spent a lot of energy concerned about protecting Cesare from him.

"I suppose you have to go to him now," he said.

[trustearned]

"He's safe," Michael answered. Which meant, not right this second.

Or he wouldn't still be here.

[kersen]

"And so are you," said Kersen, clearly finding this more important. Impulsively, he wrapped his arms around Michael's neck and moved close.

[trustearned]

"Yes," Michael confirmed, and wrapped an arm around him, the one holding his ruined shirt. He cupped Kersen's face with his other hand. "Thanks to you."