Pied Piper: "We're off to see the wizard"

[m-danson.livejournal.com]

The next two days were a blur of activity and tedium for the team. During their shifts Rob, Max and Sean were confined to headquarters. They, like the other Ratcatchers, filled thier copious free time with training, speculation and poker. In contrast their free time was hectic. Rob made arrangements with his uncle for Katie's protection. Sean checked out his old alma matter, Carleton University, but didn't get much accomplished due to the press camping out in the Thaumaturgy department. Max did some research and discovered that the Pope was in Africa on his world tour while D'Ange's location was unknown. While the oppostition argued against the "Department of Thaumaturgical Affairs" Bill stating that Canada did not need another standing army, BASA applauded the Bill saying it was a step in the right direction. This left the Ratcatchers in the amusing situation of being on the same side as BASA. Amusement didn't last long as D'Ange's press officer announced that she was returning to Canada and would give a press conference Friday, Febuary 8th. Concerned Rob contacted both Yuri and Aedan warning them to warn Prince Serra that D'Ange could unmask the fey early.

The press conference fulfilled the Ratcatcher's fears. D'Ange didn't directly unveil the Fey but rather the Ratcatchers complete with directors names and addresses of the headquarters. She accused the government of running a conspiracy to deprive citizens of their individual right to do magic. She cited the ban on medical magic how that could have cured what science was still struggling with. In response to reporter's questions she acknowledged that she expected reprisals against herself for exposing this.

The Ratcatchers were horrified. Not only had she exposed them, D'Ange had potentially set up a war between humans and fey. Amidst the confusing Director Watts entered the room and turned off the television. When he had the attention of the whole room the Director announced that everyone was to go home and stay home until further notice. Upset but obedient the Ratcatchers left before the media arrived. Max, Rob and Michael headed back to Max's to get drunk. Sean headed out to the ski resort hoping to get to Marylou before she found out what he did for a living from the TV rather than from him.

Sean drove up to the ski resort to break the news to Marylou. Luckily for Sean she hadn't been watching the news during her ski trip. Sean gave her an outline of what he really did for a living and that magic people were real. She had a hard time accepting this. She fixated on the fact that Sean lied to her about his job and the risks involved in his trips. She was very upset and didn't understand. She told Sean that she needed time to think and had him sleep on the chair Friday night. Sean went out for a smokewalk. [Ironphoenix, you might want to fill this in from Sean's point of view.]

Saturday (Febuary 9th) morning Rob with Katie in tow set out (against orders) to patrol the city and see what was going on. He found the city quiet but the Chateau under heavy guard. Angus was even on the roof guarding Serra's office. Rob reported his activities to Tony and Kyle until Kyle discretely told him to keep his actions under his hat. While Max was hungover and Sean and Marylou were skiing it became aparent that, at least in the media, the line had been drawn with D'Ange on one side and BASA on the other.

Sunday (Febuary 10th) Max went to church, luckily no longer hungover, and discovered that there would be special services during the Pope's visit in the spring. That evening Mr.Coon snuck out to take a look around the Chateau and Parliament Hill. At the Chateau he bugged the guards and ended up being threatened as a resut. On the Hill he encountered a husky that he correctly assumed was really a were Ratcatcher keeping an eye on things. The husky brought Mr. Coon to a discrete back door and into the waiting arms of an unamused Ms.Danson. After some verbal sparing and interogation Ms. Danson "does not" send Max on a mission to find out why D'Ange is messing with politics and she "does not" give him a bank account number to finance his trip. Max immediately contacts Rob and the two (and their "tools") head out to pick up Sean.

They find Sean and Marylou at the hotel. (Marylou is letting Sean sleep in the bed again.) The four talk after Sean informs them that Marylou is now in the know. Turns out that Marylou has been watching the news and has become convinced of D'Ange's point of view despite (or perhaps becaues of) the team's attempts to convince her. She reacts violently to Max turning into Mr. Coon and eventually says that she doesn't want Sean to go to Newfoundland. Sean agrees with her and refuses to go after raising some serious questions about Rob and Max's plans.

Comments

Sean

[ironphoenix.livejournal.com]

It's no surprise, really. I'd be pretty upset--fuck, I am upset at the lies, the shady activities, the risks... I still wonder how true that stuff they told me about how much danger I was in as an uncontrolled null was. Manipulating people isn't something these nice folks seem to shy away from, for sure.

I don't owe them... but I can't just walk away from it all either, not knowing what I know. Well, that's not all true either: I owe Robert, Max, Aeden, Susan, even Ringer... oh, and Lee, of course. But that's different: they're people, and it's mutual. There isn't even a Department to be loyal to anymore. For now, I can't do much; Marylou is all I can handle, frankly.

So why does this bug me so much? Why does what I know matter?

I'm afraid. I'm afraid for myself, but I'm afraid for everybody else, too. Marylou. The family. Rob, Max and the rest. The Fey--at least, the good ones. Everybody in Canada--the world, even! If this comes to war, I don't know what'll be left.

I didn't used to care about--well, I guess I didn't think about all that. I guess I cared, but it was the way everybody "cares," good intentions but no action. Now that I've been in the action, that just doesn't seem good enough now.

And now I can't do anything. Max and Robert, going off to Newfoundland to try to spy on D'Ange? They're nuts! They have no way in, and no way out if they manage to get in! If somebody there is pulling strings to move stuff in Ottawa, why not look harder in Ottawa? Find out who's running the show at DND. Who are they connected to? What's their agenda? Who benefits? That'll pinpoint what's going on far better than skulking around in 12 feet of snow!

I hope they're okay. God, I hope they're okay... that bitch scares me. She's ... focussed. She's crazy, but that deadly kind of crazy that pulls everybody else along. And it always goes so wrong. If they get caught, they're dead; Max had better keep quiet, and Robert, well, I just hope he doesn't fuck up.

Damn, I hope Marylou settles down... I need her now. Things have gotten so crazy... I need normal. I need life, with death drawing so near to us all.

I'd better stop smoking this shit and get some sleep. If I can.

I Just wish I knew what to do...

[ancalagon-tb.livejournal.com]

very powerful stuff