Case File 2017.11.23

CASTLE

For the most part, the holidays had been spent at the precinct for Elena-- this year however, Rhea had suggested having Thanksgiving at the Castle with their own unique family that's grown over the years. Asher and Buddy had also been invited to join in the festivities. The evening's meal was prepared by both Asher and Elena, with former taking charge of most of the preparations. Liam had arrived to the gathering a little late, sporting fresh bruises from recent work against some Red's that evening. Buddy, the curious guardian doll, later engaged in sharing stories with Liam and his seated audience at the table over dinner. The food had been well prepared and very filling-- Rhea grateful for both the food and the experience of such a feast among friends and those she realize to be family now.

At one point one of Buddy's tales dropped a bit of an unexpected bombshell surrounding possibly Liam's father's-father with an event at Hastings. Something along the lines of Oberon having played games with the wrong pair of Fae sisters, implying Mab and Titania...though from known Council records-- Oberon was dead. Whatever happened between Liam's grandfather, father and the Twin Fae Queens didn't appear to leave them on speaking terms. After that little revelation, Buddy decided it was time to make use of a restroom. For an odd talking doll, apparently he could eat actual food...but that also meant he needed to eliminate if from his system.

It was at about the point where Buddy began his tale about Liam's grandfather that Elena and Asher slip away from the table to go prepare coffee for the others. Giving them a quiet moment together to talk. There was little motivation to work at getting much of the kitchen cleaned up tonight-- it would wait until the morning. Elena observed during her conversation with Asher that even feeling as if she'd lost her family-- a new one was made. The way she'd said it included him...them...together...as part of that family. Asher had tried to end the awkward moment and return back to the table with the coffee, with Elena countering that the two of them had kept avoiding a certain topic about each other. Eventually admitting he doesn't want to mess whatever they have up at this point. That didn't deter Elena, the complicated 'whatever they have' felt right and it was nice. It was a brief moment longer before the coffee was set aside and Asher wrapped his arms around her. Her response was fluid as she drew in close and kissed him, and as he returned that kiss ending that awkwardness and the avoidance of that unspoken conversation.

Buddy's last story had left both Liam and Rhea a bit speechless at tale. The guardian doll apparently didn't come with a warning tag...and the weird was apparently the new normal in their lives. Liam didn't disagree with idle thought of a warning tag being attached to the doll-- explaining Buddy was a Protector spirit that wasn't far off from a guardian angel of sorts, just not very angelic. Liam has spoken with the doll a couple weeks back, and regardless liked the little guy. He seemed content to let the doll's final tale drop and Rhea didn't press the matter. Considering the doll was older than the 80's kid's toy, Liam speculated that Buddy must have a way he can shift and control or even move into a different form when needed. Of course the musings led to a chat about the continuous surprises this life brought now...especially given the path she walked these days. It was about this point where Liam sensed that Rhea could use a beer to unwind a bit more and just enjoy the evening for the rare quiet time that it was on this holiday. He'd slipped away to grab a couple beers from the fridge-- catching Asher and Elena in post embrace and slipping out quietly without a word...but a smirk on his face. Rhea caught his amused look and the comment only lending to the reasoning behind a lack of coffee at the table-- it was good Asher and Elena had finally 'talked' about their situation...she'd figured it was overdue at this point. She'd take her time enjoying the beer with Liam before helping with the kitchen clean up-- it was only fair to clean since the two had prepared the feast.

On the way back from using the 'facilities' Buddy found Alex keeping to himself in the lounge and having a drink. He poked at the young man, stating that it looked like he'd know where the 'good stuff' was in the place. Alex was a bit horrified at first from the moving doll but after a moment poured him a drink. He was trying to be polite to the guests in the Castle despite his mood...the main reason he'd kept from joining the others for dinner in the first place. Buddy wasted no time in labeling Alex as the house demon as he started up conversation...mentioning he had one too, refering to Asher who he currently shared an apartment with in the city. Alex had made comment on the doll's size and if that was the reason he was out...being kicked out due to his height. He also suggested that the two demons start a book club...perhaps finding it more amusing in his own imagination than Alex. Buddy caught that Alex was concerned about the others talking behind his back. Prodding about his isolation being due to someone saying something mean and leaving Alex disinclined to join the group tonight. He pegged the Brit, meaning Liam in this case...not seeing anyone else likely to be the source of discomfort. Buddy didn't really do advice, but it seemed best that the two just move on and not look for an apology. Pointing out that Alex likely couldn't see that they were in a way too alike for their own good-- Alex still new and thinking he has a better perspective and unable to see things from Liam's point of view. With the flip side of Liam likely feeling like he could keep Alex from making much of the mistakes he'd been through due to personal first-hand experience. That was never how it worked out in the end, regardless of any good intentions. Before leaving Alex to his own thoughts, the doll prodded once more to think about starting up that demon book club...and shortly after tumbling down a couple stairs-- signalling to Asher that it would be time to go back home. It wouldn't be long before Alex remembered he had another engagement planned elsewhere and collected several things to head to Mac's.

MCANALLY'S PUB

After his initial run-in with Alex at Mac's on the evening he got a sudden introduction to the world of the supernatural-- Kenneth had agreed to meet back up with other young man who seemed to know a fair bit regarding this weird stuff. It wasn't long before the two met at Mac's to continue their discussion from that other night. The good thing about Mac's was that it was Neutral Ground and a decent place to hold a calm conversation-- to allow for space for the materials Alex brought, they'd sat at one of the tables instead of by the bar. Alex basically cut to the chase once settled, telling the man to start asking his questions and he'd do the best he could to answer them.

Ken was concerned by the fact that he could both see and hear spirits apparently-- not a fact that'd settled well with him. Alex was familiar with a bit of what the other man was talking about, given he'd noticed talent in that area as well himself-- he did his best to provide some insight on what he knew currently. He also gave a general insight about his experience with the White Council and Wardens...not exactly unbiased from his own personal experience thus far. They talked a bit about that and the guidelines regarding magic use-- the lines you don't cross least you lose your head, literally. As he spoke to Ken, and tried to caution him on keeping to the more straight and narrow path magically...he reflects on Buddy's prior words at just how similar he was to Liam in this case. Just about doing the same thing he was doing with Ken now.

Eventually the question came about from Ken regarding how to find someone to teach him about the ways of magic-- it wasn't like you could go and put out an ad for one. Alex's statement about it would probably be more difficult to find a teacher didn't sit well with the other man. Still...Ken had quite a bit to process as it was from his talk with Alex tonight. Ken would depart with probably even more questions and concerns that he hoped to have answered while Alex would need to have a talk with Liam regarding this new practitioner...and how to help him.

MILLENNIUM PARK

After finishing up cleaning in the kitchen for the night, Rhea had decided to go out for a walk...to work off a little of the night's dinner. Though just because she didn't intend to find trouble-- it didn't mean she shouldn't bring some personal effects just in case. It seemed quiet for the most part, by this point late enough that people would likely be dozing off from their Thanksgiving dinner food comas before preparing to wake for the early hour Black Friday sales. Her feet had taken her walk out towards Millennium Park, it was for the moment quiet and empty in the area around the Bean where she'd settled down to rest and take in the evening solitude. Of course that quiet was shortly disturbed by a voice that was only now famliar from that night at the Red Nest where she'd extracted Ken. She took in Lachlan's idle question about the silver Cloud Gate sculpture, equating it to a giant coffee bean and finding it odd. Given this man appeared to be from the other side of the pond-- she tossed back that it had nothing to do with coffee that a Brit designed. It wasn't something she'd known at first herself when coming to the city, but after learning it...she was a touch defensive at it being simplified as a monument to caffeine.

She'd commented that he must still be new in town if he'd not learned that about the sculpture yet. Lachlan stated that he'd actually been in the area for a few weeks now, and meaning to present himself to Liam, Elena and herself at the Castle earlier. He more formally introduced himself as Lachlan Blackbriar, and in town to offer his assistance. Rhea wasn't impressed with his name dropping of other members within Castle walls-- it just flagged that he knew something but how much was still questionable. She point blank asked who he was working for, which he admits to be a fair question before responding The Fellowship of Saint Giles. His claim was that he was there to help support them. Rhea was familiar with the group he claimed to be working for...she'd had some minor and prior dealings with them in the past, but as far as she knew-- no one had sent a request for aid to Chicago. Lachlan stated that no one sent for him, it was just assessed to send him to Chicago and render aid. Rhea didn't buy that explanation but without being able to cross check any of what he'd said through Liam or otherwise...she'd have to take it with a grain of salt for now. Yet that didn't keep her from questioning aloud that she believed there was some type of protocol for sending word when entering another's territory.

She couldn't pin when it had happened exactly, but she was more defensive about other's just appearing in the city. Her city. He dismissed that by stating it was intended to be a shadow helper. As passive-aggressively as she could, she cut Lachlan's conversation with her short-- stating she didn't want to talk 'shop' tonight. He departs a moment later, excusing himself from interrupting her holiday and to mention to those in the Castle that he'd be around to present himself to them. She watched for a long moment as he disappeared from visible sight and after several moments longer took the longer way home. She would have to speak with Liam and Elena about this individual tomorrow if neither were still up by the time she arrived back home.

#ElenaDrake #AsherJames #Buddy #RheaWalsh #LiamWinchester #AlexDeWitt #KennethAtwood #LachlanBlackbriar