homeless_pard | When the Council comes calling

Entry tags:

jason au

When the Council comes calling

Who: Khem, JC, Asher, Nat, Req, any?
When: Two months after her shop has been open.
What: Well, the Council. And everyone gets to be a badass.

Khemrys chuckled, sealing the last of the small jars she was working on with wax and intricately knotted, colored strings. "My last gifting to the lady did not go well," she pointed out. Not well at all given the sour looks and the fact the woman practically danced when Khemrys had moved to the apartment. Khemrys was still at the Circus, often, to cook and for the dance nights that they al enjoyed but...

...well, the space hopefully had the woman forgetting about her?

"Oui," Jean Claude admitted, running fingers along plants. They'd come to look over the property and the books, a pleasant outing, honestly, to check in on their newest holding. And on Khemrys. He was a little uneasy having her away from the Circus honestly, something neither he nor Asher could pinpoint so here they were on an excuse. "But this she will not know is from you. I ask you to make something on my behalf as a gift."

She moved smoothly from sealing the bruise balm to the next chore of blending a headache powder as she considered that, "I am uncertain if that will work, high lord. My stitching is...distinctive at this point?"

"She has a point, I have to keep my nice clothes at the Circus now," Nathanial pointed out, lounging under the sun lamps. It was his evening off and he'd been intending to trade bread recipes with Khem but then the vamps had wandered in!

"We were afraid that might be the case," Asher admitted, looking up from the sale ledger. "And I suggested a leatherworker instead..."

"Aye, I've no deft hand with leather," Khemrys admitted. "No matter it may act as fabric at times, the thickness throws me?" No matter what they might intend for Anita?

"Ah," Jean Claude looked disappointed but not entirely surprised at least? She was grateful not to fail him in something he truly hoped for!

"May I at least offer some su-" she blinked, freezing a moment, herbs actually trickling from between her fingers. What was that? A feeling, nothing more, but one that slid along her spine like ice, then the front door chimed, someone throwing themselves inside with a pained gasp. She dropped the herbs entire to run for the shop entry, seeing a young rat on the floor, writhing. "Lords, MY KIT!"

The two vamps blinked, uncertain as to where such might be but Nathaniel rolled to his feet and grabbed a bag, tossing it, "what happened?"

"...he told me to run...get here..." the young man gasped, fighting a shift. It nearly took him, but he managed to pull his leg inside the shop and his body eased immediately, some boon or blessing by crossing under Gunnora's symbol no doubt. "Rafael said to get safe, but I didn't get far enough...here's safe..."

"Here is safe," Khemrys confirmed, feeling along the boy's limb's for injury. No blood, no tearing...

"From what?" Jean Claude's voice rolled dangerously, making the boy wince and curl on himself.

"The Circus. They took the Circus, they were calling us..."

"...oh shit," Nathaniel blinked.

"You will stay here," Khemrys noted grimly to the boy. "Upstairs, there is stew. Do not leave until I return." That said she was standing to grab a heavy apron with pockets and a proper backpack to stuff things in.

"You will not be going," Jean Claude noted.

"They will need a healer, high lord. And you may need blood," she noted in the calm voice of a battlefield medic. "We do not seem to have time to argue."

No, no time at all if the Circus was in danger. That was a home. Not her only home now, but certainly Jean Claude and Asher's, and it was NOT to be taken.

They'd see what the may when they arrived hmmm?

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"We are not here to entertain," Requiem answered, cool but oddly polite despite that. They weren't, and it was not going to go that way. It couldn't...

...but he tensed when the man pointed at Khemrys. How not?

Khemrys blinked, "I decline, lord." Because obviously the man was not to be trusted.

"We all decline," Requiem agreed grimly.

Padma frowned, ignoring Requiem in the face of this strange girl's defiance. "I did not ask you, girl, I told you. Come. Here." His hand reached out and beckoned again, this time with a wave of power. His power was over all manner of beast, and he could feel it somewhere inside of her; it was unlike any of the shifters here, but it was. And it was his to call by right.

She gasped, stiffening as that hit her, and it was like feeling a hand wrap firm and cruel along her very soul. Even in the long years of the hunt she had never felt anything akin to that crawling horror under her own skin. Violation of a very different sort that pulled her, screaming, into fur.

Between one heartbeat and the next she blurred into mist, then a small, clouded pard sat in her clothing, shaking her head to clear the terrible buzzing in it. She didn't move forward though, no, she stared at Padma from between Nathaniel's legs for a moment, growling in a manner far more menacing than she'd ever voiced before...

...and clawed her way back to human skin through icy, enraged will alone. "How dare you."

Eyes were on her from her own group, yes, but well trained to not show emotion in front of an enemy. Still, not even Micah could achieve so complete and seamless a shift...

If Padma was surprised, he didn't show it. What he did show was an intrigued smile, one that promised nothing good to come. "I am fascinated. What are you, girl? I've never felt one like you." That power came again, searching through her intimately for the mysterious pard and its power.

She was different from shifters here, she new that, bloodline rather than infection and well she'd learned in the months since her arrival how strange such was.

Stranger yet that someone she was not sworn to might think themselves having a right to such from her. His reaching breezed through her again to shuddering result but she didn't even blink back this time, steel slipping along her spine and his power rebuffed, "I am sworn to the High Lord Jean Claude and no other holds right to my answers."

That uneasy smile of delight didn't leave his lips. "Fascinating. Where did you find her, Jean Claude? And however did you bind her to you: she is not a wolf? Or have you been using your gifts from Belle to bolster your ranks?"

Jean Claude offered a mild look to Padma, as if the conversation should be as distasteful to Padma as it was to him. "It seems you will all continue to overstep the bounds of etiquette with my people. When did the Council begin to ignore the very rules they were created to enforce?"

Padma laughed. "I have overstepped nothing. I call that which my power can call. If you are not strong enough to keep them from me, you should not have the right to them." His eyes raked possessively over Khemrys once again. "And I shall enjoy exploring this one when you are brought to task."

"Oh, did you find a toy, Padma?" Belle chuckled softly from the hallways beyond. "You sound...interested. So rare from you," she teased.

Khemrys gave Jean Claude a weighted look, utterly ignoring Padma now as only someone of breeding could ignore a cur, "a word, High Lord?" Exactly as if they had the right to a private moment in the midst of whatever this was yes.

Requiem sighed, stepping forward at that, buying them a private moment it was.

Jean Claude held the two masters in his gaze before bowing gracefully. "A moment, if you will." He nodded to Requiem and Asher and turned away, ushering Khemrys back towards the gate where they might not be heard as easily. "I feel it was wrong to allow you to accompany us, lady..."

Asher stepped forward and joined Requiem, giving Belle a tired look before offering her a mocking bow. "Belle. How fast the time has passed since I have last seen you."

Belle eyed him disdainfully. "Yes, I had hoped for more time before my eyes would have to endure such again."

"It is your lands and holding at risk, High Lord, and as such my worry as well. I can not ask to suffer less than those I've sworn to," it would be cruel. Still, she was grateful for the space, it allowed her to rub her arms, trying to kill the gooseflesh that Padma's touch had raised. "Tell me true, lord, if they are your own sworn higher lords?" This seemed important?

Back at the front though, Requiem snorted, lifting his gun hand to run knuckles along the scars on Asher's face, "you were always an utterly shallow woman, Belle." And no, he wasn't a lover of men, but he appreciated how much comittment it took to survive such, and that was a beautiful thing.

Plus he supported those he lived with, unlike what she'd allowed when he lived with her.

Jean Claude shook his head. "No longer my sworn lords, no. But they hold positions of power over all of my kind, meant to enforce what few laws we hold to. No one may close their doors to the Council."

Asher kept his eyes on Belle as let himself enjoy that brief touch, flinging that sensation it gave him at her with a smirk. "Amazing what you will turn away for vanity, no?"

She closed her eyes, considering that a moment, then nodded to herself. When she opened her eyes they were gold, but not that of a luminous cat, but that odder color of a harvest moon on a winter night. Distant and silvery despite the warm tone. "I would like to renew my oath to you high lord, a blood oath if I may. And ask that I be allowed to speak on your behalf against this higher power."

Belle licked her lips in amusement, coming up to run a hand along Padma's arm in amusement, "imperfect things know imperfect delights, Asher. You feed on mere scraps and pity now."

Edited 2022-02-01 23:11 (UTC)

Jean Claude's mask dropped as he stared at her in wonder, feeling something foreign and powerful stir in those eyes. "Truly you are a marvel, Lady." He made to reach for her already wounded arm when he froze, a smothering fear descending on the room.

Moroven moved from the back halls with a look of contempt, icy fear pulsing from her and into her as she approached. "Children. Arthur and I were quite enjoying ourselves before this disruption." She flashed a look to Belle and Padma. "With all those under your call, why do you stand and bicker? Take them and let us return to the matters at hand."

Khemry's hair actually expanded slightly, a cat reaction in hair that was no longer braided as fear descended. Fear, ah, fear was familiar, a companion closer than any other in life even yet...

...and yet...

...she fought against the shaking to press her wrist into Jean Claude's hands.

Requiem's eyes narrowed, a hiss escaping him as he slipped in front of Asher as well. Sure, that made him the the first target if they took Moroven's advice but...

Belle rolled her eyes, "you can't just shatter everything dear Moroven, no one enjoys themselves then."

Moroven's eyes lit up at the sight of Asher. "Oh Belle, I am enjoying myself immensely. And will continue to do so if you heed me and deal with them now. I will be happy to take your damaged one once again if that is all that dissuades you."

Jean Claude's hands very nearly trembled as he took her wrist in his hands; he knew Moroven far too well to not react to the touch of her power. He knew how much worse it could be...
He raised her wrist to his lips, easily disrupting any healing that had begun without needing to bite.

And by the God that now scorned him, the taste of her. He felt himself curl around that wrist, unable to tear himself away from the sheer power that flowed there.

"I am considering challenging Padma for the woman, my new pet would enjoy breaking her," she mused to the woman. "But Asher, yes, he's still of use to you. You can have him of course, as long as I don't have to see him."

Requiem snorted, "no. You can't have him. Or any of us. You're deluded to think otherwise." Deluded and outdated. Mainly, taunting might buy Jean Claude some time, he could feel the first swellings of power and they did not want Council interrupting that!

The fingers of Khemrys's free hand came to rest on the top of Jean Claude's head, counting slowly as a way to ignore the fear, "a draught of thirty count High Lord, no more."

Jean Claude broke free at that last count with a gasp, unable to look up for a moment as he tried to make sense of the powers surging through him. When he lifted wide eyes to Khemrys's, his blue eyes blazed with fire. His lips curled into a smile, and he placed a firm kiss on her knuckles before straightening and turning back to the room.

"They are all mine." His voice spread through the room like a tangible thing, wrapping around his people like a fur cloak and touching them each with a taste of that alien power pulsing through him.

"Permission to speak for you lord?" she reminded softly, his rolling voice helping against the fear like shelter in a storm. She needed that, she felt that in her bones, after all, he was the High Lord, speaking for him without permission, well...

Belle straightened, eyes blazing at that, what...exactly was happening here? The teasing hand on Padma's arm was more cautionary now as she looked the group over, "Moroven...?" Had she felt that?

Jean Claude's smile was an oddly terrible thing: a ruthlessness he usually kept well hidden, but able to call on when it served him. And it would serve him well here. He bowed low and offered his hand to usher Khemrys forward. "Speak your piece, Lady."

Moroven's eyes narrowed slightly as the current of fear connecting her to them all suddenly ceased. "How you've grown since we last met," Moroven mused, watching Jean Claude with cautious interest.

She sank into a pool of skirts once he'd led her forward, "my thanks high lord, for your trust," then she stood and smiled as well. Hers was not a ruthless look, but rather one of cool pity as she folded her hands before herself and began, "The welcome of the hearth has been violated, the trust of rulership betrayed..."

Requiem laughed when the fear ceased, shaking his arms to loosen the muscle tension, "I might suggest you all...run." Because turning fear back on an enemy was useful? And he could recognize the prickling feel of the air going still and listening...

At her words Belle flashed a look of concern at Padma. She could feel an unease from Moroven, and it was one she echoed: had Jean Claude bound some shape-changing witch to his service now? She eased back a few steps into the protection of her leopards.

Padma snarled a curse and threw the whole of his power at Khemrys, determined to bring her under his control before she could finish uttering whatever curse she had aimed at them.

"Moroven?" Requiem asked Jean Claude, more making sure that creature was the priority before launching forward to Slice his sword along Padma's arm and toward his chest. He was pretty sure that look of concentration meant he was trying to screw with Khemrys again...

Khemrys stumbled, but shook her head, shaking off the power even easier this time it seemed. Practice made perfect perhaps? "...for these betrayals and the health of this holding we declare you forsaken, oathbreakers. May no holding aid you, no hand reach out to you in the darkness of your despair lest you learn what honor may mean and hold to it once more." The words rolled like thunder, swelling in the silence that muffled every other sound in the Circus.

Where oath witnessing faded after the moment this stretched...

...and stretched...

...growing like a towering wave of force to crash down upon the Council members. Breaking oaths, aping at leadership, and abusing all those below in lieu of mutual care was a terrible thing. They had centuries of breaking such trusts to answer for, and that meant a true shattering of power and ability.

Anyone sensitive enough to could feel the moment when the great and terrible strengths...wavered...and wash away.

Everyone in the room could feel it, in their own way. The oppressive press of fear and lust in the room evaporated, and the constant strain over control from Padma snapped. Padma had a split second to realize that his rats were no longer his, and no one would be stopping Requiem. He might not have had his power, but he was still a vampire and at least capable of reacting quickly enough to keep Requiem's sword from burying into his chest. He gave a wordless scream of rage as the sword bit through his flesh.

And the eyes of every shifter in the room were suddenly on him. One of the rats laid a careful hand on Requiem, bringing his attention to the guns suddenly trained on Padma. "If it's all the same to you, Requiem, I think Rafael would like a word with our friend here." His dark expression made the word "friend" very doubtful.

"So would we, if you don't think Rafael would mind making it a party." Richard was suddenly there, his shifted muzzle in a ferocious grin.

There was movement in the hall as figures could be seen fleeing: Belle must have made a run for it with her leopards. It wasn't apparent whether she knew any of the secret back ways out of the Circus, but with her time in the minds of her former lovers, it wouldn't be a surprise. Jean Claude made a gesture to some of the wolves to follow.

Moroven, however, stood perfectly still, shock apparent on her face as her power crumbled. Asher smiled, slipping beside Requiem to draw his other sword from his hip. "May I borrow this a moment," he murmured before moving towards Moroven. He extended his sword arm, the point pressed over her heart as he smiled at her. "Jean Claude, if you would be so kind as to summon Damian to us?"

Khemrys was just as happy to be ignored honestly, her skin feeling too tight somehow after the words and the only warmth she could feel was from the pulsing amber pendant under her chemise. Too much, she couldn't breathe...she couldn't breathe...

...she gasped, head thunking against Nathaniel's back as she just tried to find equilibrium, and that contact have an outlet for that tightness. Like electricity completing a circuit, Power jumped through the young leopard to seal wounds and ease bruising in a blink. "...oh." Oh, that, she could do that yes. Turning away to get hands on any of the fallen in the hall it was!

No, she really didn't seem to be thinking or even seeing all of them anymore.

Requiem sighed, easing back from his lunge with a growl, but he did nod, "take him. Your orders, Jean Claude?" Was he to chase Belle? Find Anita? Find Jason?

Stay?

It was a confusing night.

"Search the rooms. Bring the injured here for aid and inform me of any dead." He eyed Khemrys already moving about the injured, laying hands on them. "If Nathaniel has things in hand with Lady Khemrys, will you seek out Anita? Belle may have left her behind in her haste, but I would rather be certain she is safe. And be mindful: Arthur is still here somewhere."

Nathaniel didn't hear Jean Claude; he gasped as Khemrys's power surged through him, healing his wounds faster than even Micah ever had done. He fought the urge to reach out to her, but followed closely to help as she turned her attentions to the injured around her.

Jean Claude smiled as he saw Asher, stepping close enough to mold his body against Asher's back, his flaming eyes set on Moroven. "Already done. Perhaps you could escort our guest to a coffin, Asher? My wolves will assist you." He lightly nuzzled at Asher's neck, never taking his eyes off Moroven.

Edited 2022-02-02 20:19 (UTC)

Requiem nodded, "I'll bring her." He'd find her, because he knew Belle when she felt a retreat was in order, detouring for the blissfully exhausted was never a priority. Asher could keep the blade, he did tuck his handgun away though. The one sword should be enough if he ran into Arthur as he stalked down the halls.

Of course she was in the master bedroom, asleep and smiling, a picture that made him sigh a touch in relief until he spotted the stack of letters on Jean Claude's side table. The first was addressed to him in the unmistakable hand of Belle. Even after all these years he couldn't help reaching out to pick up the thick paper, wincing at the pleasant memories of scented sheets the perfume on the pages evoked.

Mon calme Requiem,

Depuis quand n'as-tu pas tenu ta place à mes côtés ? J'ai vu tes appartements ici, si stoïque mon petit croisé, tu as choisi de vivre comme un moine maintenant ? Ou peut-être, comme le suggère mon nouvel animal de compagnie, vous dormez ailleurs certaines nuits.

Une maîtresse ?

Vous êtes du genre à essayer de garder une telle séparation de vos actes et de votre vie les plus sombres, une tentative pitoyable. Votre chambre y est-elle plus accueillante ? Il faudra que je voie, et que je m'occupe de ton petit amour si elle est présente oui ? Vous souvenez-vous de la promesse que vous m'avez faite, que vous me garderiez toujours dans votre cœur ? Un chevalier doit toujours s'y tenir, peu importe les années. Je suis toujours heureux de vous aider à maintenir votre vertu. Mon étoile brillante, je t'enverrai encore une fois de la soie pour ton lit afin que tu penses toujours à moi.

Votre belle éternelle.

Oh hell.

It took him a long moment to still the mild trembling of his hands then he stuffed the paper away, tucking the rest of the envelopes in his cape to deliver later...maybe. Maybe Jean Claude and Asher didn't need to see these...

Jean Claude's sheets were silk and he...couldn't bear touching them, so he draped Anita in his cape and scooped her up to take her back down the hall.

Of course, then there was the general call of Arthur being spotted near the donor quarters. Damn it all to hell.

Edited 2022-02-02 20:44 (UTC)

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