Difference between revisions of "Log:Plans"

2018.06.09

Seven and Ben plans.

======-< << The Oak and Thistle - Upstairs Apartment >> >-======

Upon entry, one notices a distinctly twisted and macabre element coupled with traditionally Victorian elegance. The walls are painted deep blood red with a supple brown damask print, save for the main focal wall of the living room which is covered in leatherette. They are laden with decor of the most eclectic and macabre variety: horned skulls, embalmed oddities, dried flowers, and pieces of rogue taxidermy.

To the left upon entry is a living room with over-sized leather victorian pieces of furniture seated centrally to a coffee table and a bay window that looks out onto a square courtyard below. To the right, a kitchen with rather ordinarily modern fittings that are hidden behind dark cabinetry. In the corner here, a small round table is draped with black lace and four matching wrought-iron chairs are positioned around its perimeter.

The Beast has settled in here, in a manner. He's not changed anything and though the decor might not be to his taste exactly, he doesn't mind it. It's a place, and he gets to stay there for free. Not comlpaining.

Seven's having breakfast of bacon and eggs, having discovered that he can, in fact, cook on a stove. So tantalizing smells greet Ben when he arrives - and there's more of that food, if he wants some.

"Sounds likes someone is having breakfast in here." Ben says as he appears from downstairs. It's early in the morning but he already has his suit up. To the place, he glances as if it was, in fact, his very first time."Interesting." He murmurs casually as he approaches the kitchen."Is everything alright up here, Seven?"

Seven wears just a pair of sweatpants, his muscular torso in full display, including a multitude of old scars. Looking up, he's not terribly surprised to see Ben, grunting out a 'morning' before he scoops bacon and eggs on a plate, raising an eyebrow. "Want some?" He doesn't wait for an answer, making a plate for the Ogre too. "Everything is great here. Thanks for letting me stay. That bed in the bedroom? Makes me almost not want to sleep outside any longer."

"Sure." Ben says when he sees that a plate is already in the making for him."You don't need to sleep outside. You can stay as much as you can." He says as a quick and casual glance is cast to the bedroom."Anything new about the mine and the worms? My researches gave me nothing about that besides the resemblance to the tiny worms that live in the Everdark. But as I said, they're supposed to be tiny and they multiply each time they have enough light and don't explode at all. Neither get the size you mentioned."

"I /like/ sleeping outside," Seven explains, taking a seat on a chair that groans from the weight he puts on it. He pours up coffee for them both as well and squints at Ben. "I don't know what those worms are, but they were definitely not small. I don't know if they caused the explosions either. I've found someone that can help us with that, perhaps. Girl named Widget. Seems to know things about blowing things up."

Ben takes the coffee and sips from it briefly after taking a seat at the table too. He sit the say way he always does. Classy. After a moment of reflection, recognition comes to his face. "Widget. I met her briefly. She's some sort of smith. She had some bear traps." He offers."Mybe we could take a look at the Everdark too, at some point. See what's going on on that side."

"That's a good idea. There must be a gate somewhere down the mine, right? Can we get to it from the other side, taking a circular route? Cause might not want to go down the mine past those worms," Seven suggests, liking the literal thinking the Ogre has. "You, me, Widget, Uschi - seems like a solid group."

Ben ponders for a moment."Yes. There is another path we can take to get there. As risk as going through the mine, though. But, at least, it'll have dangers we know. I prefer that than dangers I know nothing about. Uschi and you are okay to go into the Hedge. Widget, though, would need some back up from us, I assume." He says calmly and starts eating his breakfast.

Seven eats rapidly and ravenously, but uses a fork. He's adapting to life fast, remembering more and more for each day. "Widget is a survivor. I'm sure she's quite capable, but we'll keep an eye on her." He takes a sip of coffee, thoughtfully considering their options. "I haven't seen Uschi. You gotten hold of her?"

Ben stops eating for a second or two to look at the way the other Lost devours his food, but there is no judgement on his eyes, just curiosity but his attention rapidly goes back to the conversation when the Beast makes him a question."No. She's hard to catch. I can try, though. There is someone that probably knows how to reach her." He suggests before returning eating his own food. He's an ogre, but he has manners, apparently."Do you have any Hedgespun weapon or something?" He asks after another moment."I must confess I have no weapons besides the Contracts I hold."

"I got my claws," Seven grunts around a mouthful of bacon. He's made at least 40 slices of the stuff - plenty of food for one man, and enough for two. That fridge? Might not last one week with food, after all. "Don't need anything else. But if you need something - Freehold gotta have something you can borrow?"

"I don't like trading favors. Only if my life depends on that. Favors, to me, are very expensive. Besides, I'm used to go around the Hedge and the Deep Hedge with only my Contracts. It's really not a big deal to me." Ben says."And I'm afraid more people will try to join us to the point that the operation loses its cohesion and strategy leading us to failure."

"Wise," Seven says approvingly. It's how he would approach it too. "If it matters? I've joined the Freehold now. I met the queen the other day and oathed." He grins mirthlessly, sipping coffee and eyeing Ben. "So now you can trust me.... more."

Ben grins to the other Lost. His expression is sincere and doesn't have that intimidation look as before."Unless you're a powerful warlock of the Autumn court, at least." He says in some sort of strange and occult joke as he retrieves a cloth from a pocket to clean his mouth in a classy way."Have you ever pondered about joining a Court? Autumn could have some use to you. You look like a good hunter and a fearless killer. Did you ever heard about the Ghûl position within the Court of Fear?"

"I'd think Autumn is a bit too subtle for me," Seven says dubiously, eyeing Ben as he starts an advertising campaign for his court. "I can put the fear in people, but it's not subtle much. And I'm not very interested in research. I suppose a hands-on way of finding information on the occult? Doable. Explorer-type. BUt books? No. I can't do that." He leans over the table, having finished his breakfast by now, eyeing Ben. "What is the Ghul's job?"

"The Autumn Court is not only about pulling Fear to the surface on people's heart and researching old and dusty books in a library. And to that I must say that you don't need to fit in both roles. Though, there is another branch to the Ashen Court that looks less subtle and more practical and it's about the Harvesting Time. When things need to die and be gone." At that point he pauses to flash a very grim smile."The Ghûl is the responsible for that. He's the executioner and the assassin of the court. Some people call it the 'Barrow-Tender'. It's used against the most heinous of criminals among our people. Loyalists, mostly often."

This gives Seven something to think about; it's clear he finds that position appealing. It's close to what he knows - what he /is/. "That sounds like something I could do, and do well," he admits, but he's not committing to anything. "I'm assuming that I wouldn't get such a position right after joining. I'd have to prove myself."

"In fact. No positions are earning right upon joining. In any Court. But you don't like the kind of man that would have trouble proving yourself, In my opinion." Ben says and grins one more time."But tha's just an idea for you. I don't want to be pushy. For now, having you on the same side as me is already good enough."

"I'll look into courts, when I get the chance. I don't rush into things." For a Beast, he is rather levelheaded and controlled - but it's trained, it's discipline come from years of being a soldier. Beastial cunning, in a sense. Standing up, Seven begins to clean off the table, rather than leaving a mess behind. "I've got a few things to take care of. I had to ensorcel a girl I met in the woods - she knew things about us."

That bit of information makes Ben to tense up and lose the smile on his face."A human that knows about us but was not ensorcelled? I assume she's not pledged to the Freehold either? It's dangerous. To us and to herself. What's her name?" Somehow the new subject turned him back into his more usual mood. Intimidating, serious, cold.

"Her name is Audrey." Pause. "Bollocks. I forgot to get her last name - I had to run off. But she's ensorcelled now, she can't talk about us to anyone BUT us," Seven explains. "I told her she could find me here, so I expect she'll show up today. Had to act fast. That girl was actively looking for 'fairie' I believe. Someone put things in her head and left her to her own devises."

Ben arches a brow in a mix of surprise and fear."Audrey Wilson." He says and then gives the other Lost a perfection description of the girl."She was here yesterday and I offered her a job. I didn't tell her I'm the boss, though." He comments looking to be more focused on whatever is going on on his mind as his eyes get unfocused.

Seven's surprise is clear. "Then call it fate - it was meant to be. She went looking for fae and she found it. That happens." He doesn't think it's such an odd thing; the Wyrd tends to work in mysterious ways. "Even better, if she works here. Easier for us to keep an eye on her."

"Indeed." Ben murmurs as he focus back on reality."I'll call her later and ask her to come over. I should put my Maks on so she doesn't get scary and run away from us right away." He adds as he stands up."I need to get back to the Hotel now. But I'll come back later to talk to you." He then starts moving to the door, but stops."I almost forgot. I got you something." He says and turns back to put a prepaid mobile phone over the table."Here. Easier to us to keep each other informed." He then offers Seven a sincere smile before departing.

"Alright." Seven upnods a farewell, and then eyes that phone. Like he thinks it might hurt him. Buuuut, he picks it up and starts looking at it - he'll get the hang of it. Or he can bother others how to use it. "Later, Ben."