John plods along beside and slightly behind Aleks, his steps heavier in Dalu form. He's dressed for the journey down in black cargo pants and a dark gray t-shirt, and wearing a knapsack. "How well do you know this bunch," he asks Aleks quietly.
The Tunnels are dark and dank, and not terribly pleasant in the way one probably expects such places and things to be. Someone with a pulse and a body temperature above 'ambient' is there to greet the group, bundled in a dark cloak, scented faintly of death and blood, mildew and the fetid waters down other tunnels. The face is shadowed by the hood, the figure smaller, head bowed slightly.
Aleks has rounded up whoever among the People wished to accompany him, as well as Jack. Tonight Aleks wearing an old black suit with a white t-shirt. It is a testament to men's fashion that not even this suit is out of style yet.
"How well do I know them?" Aleks replies. "Well enough to know that we're about to enter their neutral ground, where violence is forbidden, so let's keep it that way. That being said, we're only welcome on appointment. I had to set this up. We're here as representatives of the Protectorate, seeking permission to hunt. We cannot ignore the Wound beneath the city, but his assent is something we must gain if we are to have hope of success in containing it."
When the hooded figure arrives, Aleks says to them, "Good evening. Everyone is here. We will be just a moment, we won't keep His Grace waiting."
Alex is part of the group that Aleks leads to the meeting. Tonight he's dressed in a light white t-shirt that shows off his tattooed flesh along with a pair of dark jeans and combat boots. He's in hishu form in an attempt to make sure to not make anyone nervous of their presence.
Chris nods to Aleks but doesnt say a word. He is there for the worst possible scenerio after all. The Rahu with a black jacket pulled over a gray hoodie, hood pulled up. He isnt there to take point on this but he keeps his eyes sharp.
"I mean you are." Jack says, gesturing to Aleks. "I've got dual-monster citizenship." He shrugs his shoulders, and then slips them back into the pockets of his canvas jacket, before he says, "I owe him fealty as my Sovereign. We'll see if he asks any questions about that." He isn't dressed up at all, really, though he did comb his hair. "He's not as frightening as he looks." There's a joke in there. Wait for it...
Hamish is quiet, even for him, as he follows along with the others, having been on Chris's heels since they left the old shed together. The large ginger wears his normal tight t-shirt and jeans combination, hands shoved into the front pockets of his jeans as he just studies what is around, sniffing the air every so often.
John falls silent once the group is greeted, fading to one of the group's edges, a few paces behind and to one side of Aleks. He knows his role, here; he's not the negotiator. His eyes sweep from shadow to shadow, his nose occasionally wrinkling under the assault of the smells here.
Aleks grins at Jack's joke, but doesn't make an open reply. Then to the hooded figure, "We're ready," he says.
The robed figure bows, then beckons the group to follow it through the old, submarine style door. It creaks and groans and squeals - making sneaking in impossible.
The space of the big, old cistern is lit from above by older style lights, half hidden by a big grid of heavy steel bars. Within the space, is the throne formed of twisted rebar, molded, green speckled bones, and the old splinted timbers that could well be from the remnants of the Chicago fire.
THe tall, lanky figure is wrapped in an older style of suit, motionless, not bothering to feign a semblance of humanity. Leaning against the side of the throne is a rusty scythe. Maybe rust. Maybe something else.
As the wolves are lead in, they'll surely notice the feel of being in the presence of a famished monster.
Alex follows along once the robed figure leads the way within. He keeps silent, eyes open as he looks at their surroundings, and keeps an eye out for danger. Letting the others take the lead for now he's in watch and learn mode, ready to react if needed.
Chris glances to Hamish a moment but doesnt say a word. Instead he simply troes to position himself where he can see as much of the room as he can. His nostrils flare a bit, but he just remains quiet.
Aleks stands five feet in front of the door while the others enter. He waits for everyone to get situated in the room and does not yet speak, waiting for Tillo to kick things off when he's good and ready. Courtly protocols and all that.
Jack remains in position in the group as they're bid enter, and while he doesn't meet the old Haunt's gaze, he does keep an eye on him, head respectfully dipped a bit.
Nodding to Chris, Hamish moves towards the other side opposite where Chris stands, to be the other bookend to the group. The ginger just watches quietly, his eyes shifting around to keep watch of the surroundings on the one side of the room while he expects Chris to cover the other.
Each entrant is examined in turn by dark brown eyes - the look lingering uncomfortably long on each, ending on Jack. Sitting up, Tillo draws a breath in, to speak with - revealing a rather charming smile. "Why don't you introduce your friends to me?" It's worded as a request, but is not. One long fingered hand lifts to beckon the group forward with a curl of unnaturally long digits. "And... tell me what you know."
John drifts back toward the center of the group to stand close behind Aleks and Jack, as the other two Rahu have the flanks. He bristles as Tillo examines him, his jutting jaw turning downward in a frown, but he nods in deference when the prince addresses Jack, and continues to wait in silence.
Alex is calm, poised, and relaxed in his appearance. As he is studied he stands still and returns a quiet study of the vampire. Once the other's gaze moves on he follows it to the next werewolf in line before he looks back towards Jack, waiting to see his response.
"Well." Jack says, "These uh, gentlemen - have traded me a favor to shepherd them through the undercity, after securing His Majesty's permission to do so, of course. "Their leader - I refuse to call any man an 'Alpha' - is Aleks Dragolescu. Of that family. The big redhead is Hamish. The big apey blond in the nice getup is John, the other one's Chris, and the one with the ink is Alex."
"With permission, I'll let Aleks tell you what he's looking for. No reason for me to be interpreter, their English isn't bad."
Chris glances over briefly when his name is called but he doesnt seem inclined to interject. Not at the moment but his frown deepens some.
Hamish arches a brow as Jack calls Aleks his 'leader', but manages to refrain from doing much more than the brow lift, though his eyes shift over to Aleks slowly before moving back to watch Jack and the other vampire carefully.
John, too, is struck by Jack's words. He sucks in a deep breath, looking from Jack to Aleks, Aleks to Jack, and back. His lip curls slightly, but he manages to hold his tongue as well.
Aleks steps up and takes a breath. "Your Grace," he says, "I am Aleksander Dragolescu. I represent the Geminiad pack, and these gathered hunters hail from packs across the Protectorate. I serve as an envoy, but do not lead these hunters. They have come from across the city with me to show our good faith. We come to you asking your permission to allow Jack to accompany us on an exploratory hunt. We fear that an ancient Wound stirs beneath the city, and we would learn whether this is true, as it threatens us all. We recognize your Domain, and so ask your terms."
Tillo falls silent again, listening. If good manners and formality move the old Nosferatu, he shows no sign of it. Rather, the glances traded catch his interest. "Wound?" The single word spoken with a curious note. "Is that what you call it? That such an abhorrent thing has a name comes as a surprise." His voice is low, and he speaks with a slowness that threatens to add sibilance to the words.
Rising with an unnaturally smooth motion, his height becomes more apparent. As does the gaunt build. He doesn't *look* like much. A scarecrow, perhaps.
"There is a place where the Undercity does not go. We watch it. We hunt the things that slip across and try to stem the tide. It is a place where there is no boundary between here and... there. It is not a place of power - the Dragon's would have discovered that."
Alex doesn't speak up or interrupt. Instead, he lets his gaze move to each speaker to watch them with a polite study as they speak. Nodding in approval to the words spoken by his fellow wolves he looks back to Tillo as the vampire stands and replies.
Having been caught in that his etiquette on the other side is rusty - Jack merely sticks his hands in his pockets and remains quiet. He'll speak when spoken to, after this point.
Hamish remains quiet, like the mute that he is, and just watches the undead carefully. He maintains his position, hands still shoved into the front pockets of his jeans as he shifts his eyes between Aleks and Tillo as they speak.
Behind Aleks and Jack, John paces slowly from one side of the pair to the other now. His hands hang loose at his sides, swinging slowly as he walks. He does not interrupt the speakers.
Chris watches intently, his gaze moving as each speaks. Taking it in, as the wound is mentioned he listens carefully but he tries to keep his face dispassionate.
Aleks listens, keeping his gaze planted about a foot behind Tillo. "We fear that something of that place has begun to emerge in the surface world," he continues. "We recently encountered a fungal mold that suborned the cadavers of several rats. It emerged from the drains and sought to infect living flesh in its wake. We seek the root of the matter, and our search brings us here by necessity. We will shoulder responsibility for ourselves there, but all would benefit from knowledge of the Wound's current state. We would be willing to share our findings if we were allowed safe passage to the site, and from there back to the surface world as needed."
"It's possible. We do what we can, but when the sun rises, we are at its mercy. It is possible that something slipped by the servants we post to keep watch. Nearer the shore it can be quite labyrinthine. I've spent more than a few years exploring the ruins of my youth. There are even places where the old ruins from the fire touch the waters of the lake."
Tillo turns his gaze once more to each in turn. "For the purpose of searching the Undercity for signs of what has slipped free? Granted. Our influence stops along the shoreline. From the Northside to the far southeast, is not land within my influence. Though I know every inch of it."
Alex is pleased with the outcome of the meeting so far but does his best to keep from showing it. Attempting to maintain a serious and stoic expression, he lets his gaze move while he stands still.
Jack continues to listen, impassively, though when Tillo makes his decision, he does visibly relax just a little bit.
Hamish also just listens, but doesn't relax. Odds are he won't relax until they are out of this place
John continues to pace back and forth behind Jack and Aleks, nodding once as Tillo pronounces his judgment. The Rahu is satisfied.
The Elodoth takes a deep breath of the foul air, and says, "I thank you, Your Grace. The Geminiad welcomes continued correspondence. May we beg your leave to depart?"
"Of course." Tillo says with an absent wave of his hand. "Don't let me keep you from your explorations. I can't wait to see what you find." A hint of eagerness creeping into his voice.
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