The Dresden Files RP- "Edge Town"

"Anne?" The voice over the phone was definitely Valerie's and it was definitely strained. "Where are you right now? You need to leave. Now."

Outside the storefront is the seemingly deserted narrow street- Caleb's van sits just in sight. Pretty dinky next to Venari's Golden Zimmer, but sturdy looking. There is no sign of the enemy in sight.

She laughs. "I suppose that's a fair a question- but why is such a handsome young man doing all the talking I wonder? What compels the others to silence? Is it fear? That might be wise. Is it awe? Unlikely, my pedigree is purposefully hidden in shadow."

"It is more a calm respect by not having us overwhelm you by speaking all at once." Tim put him calmly.

"I'm not compelled to silence, I just got nothing to say."

"With all due respect ma'am, it's fear," M said bluntly but calmly. "I don't like the idea that someone on the Council finds me of interest."

Tim sighed and then whispered to M. "She's most likely not Council."

"I am on a Council. There are quite a few of them you see: some of far more effectiveness and importance then the White." Her eyes were sparkling. "For now be content in this: my traffic is secrets and I am content to keep them."

"Not taking any chances Her von Hochberg. This is one of your safehouses, is it not?" M whispered back.

Annette frowned and turned to face her reflection. "I'm in r-Rome right now, in accorded g-grounds. What's wrong? And can you explain, p-please? You know I h-hate vague directions, here..."

Alexander moves back from the door, looking around at the room, trying to come up with a plan.

"No sign of snipers-but they're likely covering the door. We need to bait them out."

He started to pace, taking inventory. Cash register-lines of washers and dryers. Laundry detergent. Nothing useful. He paused, fixing his gaze on the door to the saferoom.

It was probably bulletproofed.

He flicked a multi-tool out of his pocket, opening up the screwdriver, and stepped back inside Rigelletto's warehouse, starting to unscrew the hinges.

"How averse are you to getting shot at, Caleb?"

He shrugs watching Alex with interest. "Eh. It happens."

Lelaine, takes the front door immediately- standing guard at the glass store front, Venari stands by her with the poise of someone in a ballroom with royalty, not someone in the middle of a ham fisted assassination attempt.

There is a choked noise and a flickering of papers. "Someone's filed for your arrest under the Accords: you're accused of unlawful killing at an Accorded event. I can defend you from the charges but you need to leave Rome. They have their own set of rules and process that's not presided over Unseelie representatives but a Roman Magistrate appointed by the ruling body: of which your accuser is a member."

"It is, but if I most be over clear: I am not White Council." She snubs out her cigarette. "That doesn't change that I'm here to deliver a warning and be ominous though. That's less of a White Council thing and more of a 'it's fun' thing."

edited 2nd Jul '15 3:09:11 PM by LMage

"Your stock and trade is secrets? Sounds familiar. Bet you know a few interesting names," Jarl responded nonchalantly. "That still doesn't answer the question that I'm sure is on everyone's mind - why have you called us here?"

"...wh-what?"

Annette swallowed harshly and moved her phone to her other ear, held there against her shoulder, and she brought her fingers up to pull her hair into a half-assed ponytail. "Th-that's insane! Who f-filed the charge?! I haven't even b-been doing anything in the accorded grounds b-but sleeping! David t-too! Valerie, what's going on?!"

"If I run, won't I seem m-more guilty? Can't...c-can't they tell that I d-didn't do something like...like th-that? There has to be magic for that!

Hell, I could make a truth serum myself with the time. Which I don't. I'd like to trust the law, but...but...

"...v-Valerie I'm—I'm f-freaking out," she dragged her nails down her arms, "What c-could happen if I...if th-they arrested me?"

Alexander finishes taking the door off its hinges, faking a grunt of effort as he hefted it, stepping toward Caleb.

"That's the spirit. So-as difficult as this seems, considering our past conversations, I'm going to need you trust my marksmanship."

He grinned, almost a dare.

"So. Pop out, walk through toward the van. They'll fire. I'll fire back. And I don't plan to miss."

Sniping with a shotgun. Against White Court snipers. I better not miss.

edited 2nd Jul '15 3:22:01 PM by DrTentacles

"Nothing, because you're not guilty. I've already booked a flight, I'm on my way: I can defend you against any charges leveled. But for now... Rome doesn't obey standard magical law: it has it's own bizarre system of trial and based on Swiss law. You need to leave Rome. Take David and get out: as soon as possible."

Ange laughs. "Several reasons. Not least among them that I know who's holding your collar. And in that regard I have some advice to dispense. You can already guess Loki is not telling you the whole story, but there is a critical bit you might find interesting." She licks her lips. "You are not his only agents in Italy at the moment. Old friends have joined you. You remember them by the name of Disir."

Caleb stares at him blankly. "Do I get the bullet proof door shield?"

"So, adding to the list that already includes homicidal necromancers in control of ancient Roman ghosts, Loki himself, three Knights of the Blackened Denarius, the Church, and what is soon to be a slavering horde of angry museum curators, we've now got the Disir minus three looking for us."

"Man, this adventure gets better and better. At this rate it will be a miracle if none of us end up getting struck by lightning."

edited 3rd Jul '15 4:29:09 AM by math792d

Terry glanced up at the sky and took a step away from Jarl.

"At this point I would happily welcome lightning."

"And ma'am, is there something you wish in return for this information?" M asked with a nervous smile. "I know full well that information is not free in our circles."

Tim just calmly facepalmed. Of course the Disir was in this too.

"No. I just enjoy removing doors."

Alexander pauses, giving Caleb a very level look.

Ask a stupid question...

"Valerie, answering one question out of f-four isn't b-being helpful!" Annette said a bit too loudly before covering her mouth. Crap. That...probably woke them up. "Where sh-should I go? Where's s-safest? I m-mean...I was going to d-drive to Florence...but..."

"Then go there." There was a rustle of papers. "Your friend Caleb can protect you for the time being just...do not get arrested inside Rome. We will grow old and die waiting for the legal system to work itself out."

Ange laughs. "Is it such a hard thing to imagine that I am simply doing a good deed with no expectation of compensation? Maybe I just want to help."

Caleb smirked. "You should really work on that. Taking doors off the frame without their consent is wrong."

"As a simple merchant who spends their entire magical life with spirits, I'm aware that everything has a cost, even aid," M shrugged solemnly. "It's not that I don't buy your sincerity, I just don't think the system we're in allows for it."

"I feel like that's a subject you can raise with the snipers outside. While holding the door."

He faked another grunt of effort as he lifted the door, passing over to Caleb, then sauntered toward the windows, staying low, crouching behind cover. He drew in a breath, loading in six slug rounds, two more held in the hand braced on the pump. Buckshot would be next to useless at that range, especially against a White Court.

"Your move, Welsh."

edited 3rd Jul '15 7:40:04 PM by DrTentacles

"Alright, alright. You've c-convinced me to run from the law. I h-hope you're pleased with y-yourself, missy. I'll c-call you when I'm out of th-the city limits."

...and now to think of ways to tell my son and new friend that I'm a wanted woman, that we need to run, and that it's okay because mommy isn't actually a murderer.

Do as I say, not as I do, right?

Fuck.

Jarl shrugged. "The old saying about free lunches comes to mind. Though it does imply that you have something riding on our success, and if so, we'd at least like to know what your stakes are."