prologue ♔ it leads to an article of imminent death

[behindcloseddoors]

♬ Vesuvius- Sufjan Stevens

WHO || Alec, Anastacia, Luthir, Solace, Edain
WHAT || Alec meet the Knights
WHERE || Bath, England
WHEN || Backdated to sometime in late April
HOW || Actionspam

A job was a job, but this one was already shaping up to be out of the ordinary.

The man who'd invited Alec to his small office with intent to purchase his services was a short, squat man who wore a plaid waistcoat, smelled of too many sour cigars, and had merely a few wisps of black hair that had to be portioned out over his bald scalp. He had a nervous habit, and was standing by the window now, tap tap tapping his foot.

"This uh... this isn't going to be like any seeker job you've probably ever taken. Just wanna make that clear right up front."

Comments

Really digging this song

[fallencrest]

Alec glanced around the room, hands very lightly tucked into his pockets as he did so. He had worked for seedier men than this one. A job was a job indeed, even if the client sent unpleasant tingles up his spine.

"As long as you have the money to pay me, I'll get the job done. I have my reputation for a reason. There is very little that still surprises me."

He managed a confident tone, his expression just the safe side of smug. It was always hard on the job. He didn't have all the surety he put forward. Seeking wasn't an easy job, by any stretch. But boy could he talk it up. And he had a good record going.

"So. What do you have for me? I could use a good challenge."

At least he had the reassuring pressure of the Magnum against his side if things with this guy took a turn for the worse.

♥

[behindcloseddoors]

[ the guy seems unimpressed with his confidence, and takes in a breath before shrugging and saying: ] I want you to look for my niece.

She's... well...

She's dead. [ there's little grief in his tone, as he adds: ] Or she was.

[fallencrest]

Dead

[Alec doesn't manage to keep a lid on his mouth to keep the next comment from coming out.]

You want me to track down a ghost?

[No. Don't insult the client. He needed the money, and the job, too.]

Right. Okay. I'm going to need you to give me a little more information to go on if you want me to find your... niece.

[His tone isn't suspicious at all.]

[behindcloseddoors]

[ he looks a little cagey as he says: ] Not dead no. Her body disappeared from the grave, just a few days ago. The police assume grave robbers, but I've got my own suspicions that they don't wanna touch. She used to hang out at these clubs - "goth" places, I think the kids call 'em. They all wear black, paint their faces white, read too much Neil Gaiman. You know the type.

I think her 'friends' got something to do with this.

[fallencrest]

[Alec's first thought is so cliche he hardly wants to entertain it. But hey, he has a crossbow if the bullets don't do it for him.]

Might be a good place to start looking. Know the names or locations of any of them?

[Corpse seeking. Not his favorite pastime. Not that he has ever had to do that before, the idea of it just sounds unpleasant to begin with.]

And do you have a picture or... something she used to wear.

[I have dogs, he tells people. It's not technically a lie.]

[behindcloseddoors]

I got you an address of one of 'em. [ he pulls out a scrap of paper from a drawer and hands it over ] Something she used to wear? [ don't think he didn't catch that. LOOKIN AT YOU FUNNY. ]

[fallencrest]

[Look all you want pal. Alec completely wastes his Nat 20 bluff on a lie that's barely even a lie.]

I've got a dog. He's useful for this kind of thing.

[He takes the scrap of paper and gives a nod after he studies it a moment.]

What was your niece's name.

[behindcloseddoors]

[ the guy nods knowingly, tapping the side of his nose ] Ohhh one of them police dog types. Smart.

I don't care how you do it, as long as you find her. Her name's Sondrine. And I can probably find you one of her shirts or something, sure.

[fallencrest]

Yeah. He's useful. And thanks.

[Alec pockets the slip of paper, committing the name to memory. Sondrine. This case is definitely going to be one of his more interesting.

He would just have to hope the girl really was dead. Easier to bring a body back than persuade an unwilling runaway to come back with him. Especially if she had joined the ranks of the undead.]

The more I have to go on the sooner I can track her down and retrieve her. [And the sooner he coud be rid of this guy, the better.]

[behindcloseddoors]

I'll have it delivered to your apartment, tonight. How's that?

[fallencrest]

That will work. So are we done, then? Unless you have some other information to give me, I should probably get started.

[behindcloseddoors]

Yeah, we're done. You can always call if you come up with any other questions. [ as promised, a package is delivered to alec's apartment that night, left in a box outside, apparently dropped off without being mailed, although no one knocked.

inside is a girl's tank top, magenta with sequins accenting it. ]

[fallencrest]

[It's hard to be surprised by that. Alec opens the box letting the door shut and dropping the box on his bed. He picks the Eagle up off his bed, flicking the safety on and tucking it in the back of his pants where his shirt will cover it.

He picks the tank top up, twisting it in his hands before bringing it up to take a deep whiff, nose scrunching a bit. Getting a scent is never a particularly appetizing process, but it helps.

He drops it back in the box and grabs his keys and the slip of paper with the club address, dragging the door shut behind him. The sooner he gets this job over with the better. Time to head to the club.]

[behindcloseddoors]

[ make a navigate check please to find the place! needs at least a 10 to locate it or boy gettin' lost... ]

[fallencrest]

[Navigate check 15! Which is good because for as talented a nose as he has, his navigation skill has a whopping +0]

[behindcloseddoors]

[ easy enough B) the place has the appearance of a run down nightclub, a two story brick building with graffiti on the walls outside and a bored looking clientele waiting outside - mostly teen kids, very much a goth element. ]

[fallencrest]

[Alec takes a walk around the building before ruffing up his hair, slouching his shoulders and shoving his hands in his pockets.

He approaches the door in no real hurry, hanging around a little away from the group before deciding to approach the door.]

[behindcloseddoors]

[ he's stopped by an entirely pale doorman, who looks deceptively lean, who peers at him through heavily lined eyes. ] You on the list?