It isn't often that the former King-of-Three makes appearance outside of his lair in the Undercity. And yet, he has made some poor fucker haul his throne of rebar, moldering bone, and old, fire licked timber up to the back of the Fireside.
You can't have one without the other.
Tillo is perched in statuesque, silent repose, seeming thoughtful. The scythe ever-present and leaning on the one side of the twisted seat. The skin of the scarred man-become-fancy cloak is elegantly (grotesquely) draped over the opposite corner of the throne's back.
Elaine enters the backroom, along with a pack of werewoofs. She finds herself in her Cubs t-shirt feeling a bit under-dressed for the occassion. She also glances toward her montante sword that she'd left in here earlier the way some children would a security blanket. Not knowing what else to do, she bows to the prince of the undercity. She'd curtsey, but that's hard to do in shorts. "Good evening, Your Highness."
Shortly after Elaine arrives, Nick is pushing the door open and holding it for Ethan as he escorts Ashlyn into the room with a smile and jovial atmosphere...till he sees the throne and occupant. Well. This is unexpected. What a twist!
Disengaging himself from the pair he takes a few steps forward and offers a formal bow from the waist "Prince Tillo. What an unexpected surprise. You honor us with your presence nonetheless. Would you care for a drink?" He rises then and folds his arms behind his back and just waits for a response.
Well. That wasn't there before. Ashlyn steps through the door and just... stops. And stares. "The fuck...?" she asks slowly, forehead pinching together in a confused frown. And then Nick is pushing past and... bowing...? No, none of this makes much sense to Ashlyn. So she just stands there looking vaguely confused, trying to puzzle out what's happening.
Having seen the group vanishing into the back room just as she was coming in the main entrance, Rachel is in hot pursuit! Well, not hot pursuit. Lukewarm pursuit. She walks. It's not like they're going to escape her their trek to find privacy and pizza. After checking with the posted guard, as per usual, she pushes in the door behind them. "Hey guys, what's happenin?" She asks with a casual tone and a smile, before glancing over to see what everybody's looking at.
Today she dressed herself in a lovely short skirt with a pattern that at first looks like dots scattered in intriguing, abstract shapes, until you realize the dots are tiny stylized eyes, a crop top tank, and strappy sandals, plus her usual laptop bag.
Ethan steps right through and then stops short. He stares at that throne like he’s got *thoughts*, but quickly smooths his features. He gets out of the way of the others coming in…and then goes to find a spot of wall to prop up. That easygoing demeanor is gone; he radiates wariness, his guard slammed straight up and his posture stiff, his eyes narrowing faintly. He puts his detective novel neatly on some nearby table, out of the way and out of his hands.
He glances at Ashlyn. Oh good. Someone else doesn’t know what’s going on. That’s comforting.
One.
Two.
Three.Four.Five.
Tillo's unblinking, uncomfortably dry eyes roll to the side slightly to focus on those entering. It gives the seven foot tall, skeletal Prince the eerie feel of those paintings that seem to watch. Bowing and greetings are noted before he straightens. Just the slight rustle of his old timey cut suit, where one might expect creaks and groans. He's not one for many words on the best of days, or displaying human expression.
As he moves, that aura of unending, insatiable hunger rolls off of him and he *smiles* at Nick.
"Are you offering?"
Lucero is blissfully unaware of what ey's about to walk into. Sensing some minor commotion in the private party room, the Mekhet smiles faintly to emself and walks in to see...
"Uhm, wait.. What!?" Luz easily sidesteps a harried server coming up behind em before bowing eir head. "Y-Your Highness. It's good to see you. Is there any particular occasion?" Ey slides towards one corner of the room, away from the entryway and the assembled crowd.
Stopping just after entering the back room of the pizza place, Hamish's nostrils flare as he scents the room. The Rahu's brow arching slightly before he even notices Tillo's throne, and arching further even once he spots and recognizes the monstrosity. There is a short huff of air out the redhead's nose before making his way further into the room, taking a look around at those gathered, a slightly longer glance as his eyes fall on the master of the Undercity. There is a shrug, and then the behemoth of a man makes his way to find himself something to drink.
"It's a fortunate coincidence you are here tonight, Your Highness." Elaine addresses him, perhaps to give the wolf an easy out from having to decline feeding the elder vampire. "I was wishing to offer my assistance with your monster problem. My sire sent me to Chicago to prove myself, and this sounds like a grand opportunity to do that. You benefit in that you have one more assisting you, and I get to test myself against monsters. A win-win. Don't you agree?"
Smirking slightly, Nick says easily "I would not have spoken such words if I did not mean them Sir. I will not let it be said that we were discourteous."
While perhaps not what he meant, its what he gets. Nick walks towards the food while Elaine speaks and returns a few moments later with a glass of blood for the Prince and a smile.
Ashlyn may not have any idea what's going on, but she at least recognized the name 'Tillo' as Nick speaks. She doesn't bow, though. At the question of whether Nick is offering a drink, in THAT tone, her spine stiffens visibly. Eyes narrow and expression darkens. No, she does not approve. Not one bit. Arms rise and Ashlyn crosses them in front of her, a deep scowl on her face. But she doesn't say anything. Not yet.
Oh, Elaine's here too! Rachel glances over at the sword vampire. She seems to be attempting to, what's the word? Petition, that's it, petition the prince. Probably not something she wants interrupted. Rachel flags down a server, quietly placing an ordr for food and drink, then sidles up next to the werewolves, giving them a little aside wave and smile. Ashlyn, in particular, looks like she could use a little support, so Rachel stands next to her for the time being.
"Occasion? Yes." Lucero answered, though Tillo's dead gaze tracks Nick's side quest to bring back the cup of blood. "We will have to discuss that in private." He decides of Elaine's query. The old feud between Protz and Enrico Salvatore a century old affair. "Come to the Oubliette later this evening of tomorrow." Where some poor schmuck is surely going to have to haul the throne back down and through the sewers, halfway across the city to.
The glass of blood is completely ignored, the old Nosferatu keeping that unblinking stare locked on Nick. No words for the wolf. Just the unsettling weight his dead scrutiny.
"I had thought to see who might be about and interested in the mess that has been made of the Undercity.
Not his circus, not his monkey. Hamish casts his eyes over towards Nick as the man brings over a glass of blood and shrugs his shoulder still working on getting his bottle for the night. Not having much luck, the Rahu lets out a sigh and slaps his hand down onto the bar to get the attention of someone to fulfill his order, showing his little whiteboard to the first server than makes an appearance. Written in bold block letters, 'Give me a bottle of scotch.' and almost as an afterthought, written in another color of pen is a smaller 'Please.' with an arrow pointed over to the twenty dollar bill that is clipped to the side of the board.
Luz slides up next to Rachel, the only person (other than Tillo) that ey recognizes. "This new situation in the Undercity is certainly odd. It's making travel more difficult than it needs to be, among other things. Are you looking for scouts, Your Highness?"
"Of course, Your Highness. I look forward to it," She bows her head to him and finds herself a seat out of the way with her "extra" bloody Mary. She sips and watches the others, planning what she'll say to the Underprince later.
Arching an eyebrow slightly, Nick just returns that stare back to Tillo. The Storm Lord places the glass of blood on a tabletop and folds his arms over his chest as the mirth has faded fully now and left only the wolf. "Alas, Prince Tillo. I am not on the menu this evening. If that is how you took my offer.." he shrugs slightly and lets it go.
"What are you looking for exactly to be done in the Undercity?"
Ashlyn's fingers drum quietly against her arms. A sideways look is cast to Rachel, silent acknowledgement of the woman next to her. Lucero also gets a glance, quietly observed before Ashlyn's focus returns to the interaction between Tillo and Nick. Glowering. Or brooding. This Rahu exhales slowly through her lips, jaw rolling slightly.
Mention of the 'mess that has been made of the undercity' makes Rachel blanche, eyes flicking to Nick, remembering the fire. Then Aslyn, then Elaine. Then Lucero, who seems to have joind her without her noticing. Shit, this might cost something. Her attention returns to Tilo.
Ethan has continued to prop up his piece of wall, trying not to give away too much. He's watching Nick closely. A few times he's frowned, like he's not sure whether he ought to get into this or not...but he's the picture of a man who has absolutely no idea what to see or do. But finally he pushes off and goes to stand near Nick. He was down there too. Just cause he doesn't know what to say doesn't mean he should just hide out against the wall.
Finally one of the staff ends up serving Hamish, taking his money and in return bringing him a bottle of cheap scotch. Served at last, the Rahu makes his way over to a corner away from the Vampire prince in order to keep the dead man in sight, plopping himself down into a bench seat and sprawling out to make it his own little slice of territory in this place. With a flick of his thumb, the redhead unscrews the top of the bottle quickly and raises it to his lips to take a long awaited swig...which he spit-takes out again in about a half second. He turns the label to face him and scowls, raising his hands and gesturing wildly. 'Peanut butter?! Who the fuck puts peanut butter into whiskey?!' is signed for those that know ASL. Glowering, Hamish shakes his head again and lifts the bottle back to his lips for another swig, not spitting it out this time now that he is prepared for the taste.
"You need assistance, what with, Your Highness?" Elaine asks from her seat, curious how she might be able to earn Brownie Points with the Under Prince.
"Pity. I always find werewolves to be refreshingly spicy." Tillo doesn't relax - the way he moves is almost insect-like, or as if powered by internal hydraulics. Smooth, but decidedly inhuman. With the cold efficiency of point A to point B and the lack of tiny motions that indicate life.
"There are places where the fires smolder, still. We have flooded and drained where we could to snuff the embers. If allowed to rekindle... the city, of course, will be at risk. There are simply nooks and crannies we cannot reach, even with portable pumps and hoses."
One spindly hand with fingers too long, lifts and motions towards where Hamish is. Whatever the end of the sign is when he finishes is where his hand simply stays - almost forgotten.
"The fire must be snuffed out. Before the things on the other side grow too curious."
You whisper “Tillo signs: I'll ensure there is a staff member posted here to communicate with you.” to Hamish.
"Ah, firefighting... I see." Luz nods before quietly getting the attention of a server and ordering a small glass of blood before sitting down off the the side. "I'm sure you wolves will have no trouble sniffing them out." Ey comments pleasantly.
"I see" Nick says after a moment "I'm sure it would be possible." He shrugs slightly before moving away then to settle at a table before looking over at Ethan and Ashlyn before turning his gaze back towards Tillo. "Have your people managed to map at least the rough area where these hotspots are?" What the hell are they supposed to do, carry a bucket of water down there?
Spicy? Ashlyn growls softly, fingers tightening on her arms. She flicks her attention to Lucero upon hearing eir statement of firefighting. "What do you think I'm able to do about a fire that vampires can't?" she asks, the not-so-subdued glare remaining. Though Lucero was not the original intended recipient of this glower, ey seems to be getting it now.
As Nick steps back to settle down, she peers at him. "Should I just go to the hardware store and buy some fire extinguishers? Then anyone can put them out if they come across them. I'm no better at finding a flame than anyone else. Are you?"
Ashlyn's point rings hollow to Rachel, who has seen the horrific scars Elaine (however temporarily) had to endure, while werewolves literally stood amidst naplam to ensure a foe was defeated. But maybe it's not her place to say so. She gives Ashlyn's arm a gentle touch, glances at Nick, then at Elaine, as if to say 'hey, I'm gonna go,' before turning around to go back out the way she came.
“You know I just came for some pizza,” Ethan finally drawls, crossing over to get a piece, sort of lifting it up as if to demonstrate–see. Pizza. “Didn’t realize we were going to be getting into this kind of conversation today. And I’m a little new to all…”
He waves his hand around, sort of up and down, as if to take in that Ikea-Halloween nightmare Tillo’s sitting in.
“But since Nick’s asked for a map n’all anyway…is that the end of it? We put out fires, you acknowledge that we took care of the goo problem and did the clean-up, and then everybody’s done getting testy about the fact that we took out the Ooze Monster with fire, when the Ooze Monster’s literal only weakness was fire? Cause I’m not sure if that’s been said yet. It literally had one literal weakness and that one literal weakness was fire.”
See? Ethan is spicy! And Ashlyn is spicy!
"Yes. We have an idea of where the hot spots are and a map can be provided for clearing them. And then we will..." The pause is telling, even if Tillo's face isn't.
"Be considered even."
"I will see it snuffed out," Elaine says, knowing she was part of what started it.
Looking over at Rachel, Nick nods and offers a small smile towards her and mouths 'be safe' before turning his gaze towards Ethan as he speaks. The lips pull back into a small smirk before turning his gaze towards Tillo.
"The thing had already infested through the city like a plague. The fact that the explosion happened at all should have been a testament to what this thing could do, and you know full well that had it decided to it would have swept from the Wound straight through all of you. While it was tragic that the damage happened Prince Tillo, it was an unavoidable situation that arose. If the Undercity wishes aid, then we will offer our assistance as allies within the Accord."
He glances towards Ashlyn and Ethan then before saying, "Agreed?"
Ashlyn huffs softly. Nick is doing most of the talking, but the Rahu isn't being the most subtle. She shifts her weight from one foot to the other, tapping her fingers rapidly against her arms. Spicy? Well, maybe.
Nick's negotiation is met with a quiet grunt from Ashlyn. "Fine," she grumbles. "But we're doing a LOT of legwork to make that place metaphorically liveable again." 'cause vampires don't live, y'see. "I'll get some fire extinguishers. You get a map."
Ethan frowns at that pause, looks over at Nick and gives a quick nod. The work isn’t what bothers him apparently. Or how it gets done.
He does look back over at Tillo and gives what he hopes is a charming smile. “And just so we can be as efficient and as helpful as possible as allies and such like the man said…you reckon there’s anything else we should know? Anything it might have slipped your mind to tell us about what’s going on down there? No hard feelings if so, there’s a whole lot going on, but we surely would like to hear about it if so. I’d hate to find out there was some nest of…I don’t know, some sort of napalm spiders farting DQ-grease flavored silver spray or something down there for us to run into without some kinda warning.”
Tillo purses his lips and looks from person to person, then smiles brightly. Fangily. It's potentially more unnerving than his usual stony, stoic, lack of expression.
"Oh, it's alright. I was under the impression that John's people wanted to make things right after burning half the Undercity. You let him know, would you?, that I take this push for credit and attempted negotiation, to heart. And I will be consulting with my regular contractors about the matter instead."
Elaine scribbles a short note onto a napkin for the prince of the Undercity and hands it to him.
Shaking his head slightly, Nick holds up a finger "One. Elaine, Rachel, Hamish, Ethan...these are not 'Johns' people and thus do not represent your dealings with the Steelmaws, nor will I have it put forward as such. Two, not once did the Steelmaws ask for credit. I have already stated our position on what happened down there. Three, we have already offered to work with you...we do not work for you. If you wish to reject our assistance, then so be it. That is on you Prince. We are not your subjects. We are your allies."
Fangs. Sharp fangs. Ashlyn has sharp teeth too sometimes, but not like THOSE ones. They ARE a bit unnerving and she glances back towards the door, considering for a moment before returning her attention to the conversation. She gives a firm nod at Nick's clarifications, gesturing over towards him. "What he said."
“And all I said was it doesn’t make a whole lot of sense to get angry about us using fire when fire was the only weakness the creature had,” Ethan clarifies, no longer smiling. He speaks in even tones.
“Seems unfair. Seems unjust. If you wanted that thing taken out, someone was going to have to get down there with a Zippo. I also asked for information. Job of work needs to get done, information is a good thing.”
Tillo accepts the note, opening it and studying it a moment. A small nod and he tucks it away. "Hmm." The sound thoughtful and one some of the others have surely heard before. "You are not my subjects. Nor are you my allies, yet. Some among you seek to build that bridge while others seem to want to burn it down just as quickly as it can be assembled. Fascinating to observe." Unfolding his too-long limbs, he rises to his full height, taking a moment to tugs and adjust his clothing until it aligns nicely.
"I'm sure you know where to find me." The spidery limbed Nos inclines his head slightly, and turn towards the more discreet rear entrance. A quad of ghouls scurrying about. one to take Tillo his scythe, another to drape the human-looking burned skin cloak about his shoulders, while the other two struggle to get the throne up and toddle after. Poor bastards.
Well what had been a good day has now just gone to shit. Nick just shakes his head, "Think what you want." It's not worth it. You can only smash your head on a rock so many times before you want to just burn the fucking rock to slag. Rising to his feet, he just looks at Ethan and Ashlyn, "Lets get out of here."
"Maybe, just maybe, you and your subjects should make requests of allies instead of assuming demands, or implications that we will do whatever you say, simply because you say it." It's the most Ashlyn has said so far! "Allyship goes both ways. So far? It's been one-sided, and we have been helping because that's how allies work. Only to hear complaints and demands for more, if not from you, than from those under you. Even you should see that is disrespectful and taking advantage." She inhales deeply through her nose, exhaling slowly through her lips. Calm, Ash. Calm.
"You have not ASKED for our help. Simply stated a problem and waited for us to answer. And while talking of the fires, one of the others here stated that werewolves would, and I quote, have no trouble sniffing them out. We are NOT your PETS. If you want help, then ASK for it."
Meanwhile Ethan seems more than ready to get out of here since Tillo is, as if Tillo leaving is releasing him from a trap he'd suddenly found his foot stuck in. "Gotta find me a new pizza place," he mutters, casting one final look at that ghoulish throne even as he drops his long-cold slice in the trash. "I don't like the furniture in this one." He sure isn't going to try to engage any further with the vampire prince but...does hover near the door. Just in case there's about to be some new development.
Tillo does not reply until he crosses the threshold from the safety of the Fireside to the alleyway behind it. "Come, then, pup. Say those words where I can *hear* them."
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