[ CLOSED ] The Buck Stops Here

[sulahnan]

WHO: Athessa, Bastien, Byerly, Colin, Deimos, Flint, Raas, Thranduil, Yseult
WHAT: Revenge for past trauma reveals a sinister plot
WHEN: The Month of Guardian (aka now)
WHERE: The Gallows and Hightown, Kirkwall in general
NOTES: CW: This plot deals with sexual assault, revenge, and murder. Mostly the aftermath of the assault, no graphic descriptions that I can foresee, but be cautious. Opting out and hand-waving is fine.

By and large, the beginning of the month of Guardian in Kirkwall is unremarkable. Business as usual, even with the ever increasing cost of sugar, coffee, and tea. But for the inhabitants of Lowtown, it comes with signs that their waking nightmares persist.

For the past few months of winter, Lowtown locals have been whispering about a rash of murders and disappearances among the Alienages. Deaths previously attributed to exposure to the harsh winter weather are rumored to be far more insidious; some have claimed that they noticed wounds on the bodies as they were being disposed of, but any attempts to bring this information to the City Guard have been met with indifference or empty platitudes.

Less widely noted, and harder to attach to a pattern, are the instances of working girls being hired to entertain at private functions and coming back...different. Or not at all. To the average person, it’s barely even news, but to anyone who spends time in the brothels and listens to the chatter within, it’s clear that these are not isolated incidents, nor are they without concern.

While the alleged murders in Lowtown have no clear culprit and thus are blamed on anyone from random strangers to demons and Crows, the goings-on at the brothels go hand-in-hand with mention of one name in particular: Devigny.

Comments

[keenly]

Colin follows suit, squinting at the new arrivals and frowning at the drawn curtains. Have they been observed? Are they in danger right now? He doesn't think so, or they would have been caught before any new arrivals. Whoever is in the carriage is being hidden, but not from them specifically.

[sulahnan]

Even less like the previous callers, it seems this one was not expected. Or at least, not greeted with an awaiting footman and an open door.

Instead, it isn't until the driver of the carriage jogs to the door and knocks that the footman answers. As he approaches the carriage, a woman steps out and to the side to let the footman retrieve something, ostensibly luggage, from within. Why the luggage wouldn't be on the top or rear of the carriage is strange, but Athessa is more interested in who the woman is.

"Colin," she whispers, reaching out to grip his arm and continuing to stare with rapt attention. "That's Madame Lette. From the Crimson Cat."

And then, the footman reappears, but not with luggage. For a man of unimpressive bulk and stature, he's surprisingly strong, seeming to heft the unconscious form of a young woman over his shoulder. He bows his head to the Madame, who clamors back into the carriage, and walks back towards the front door of the estate.

"We have to do something," she barely hesitates before starting to push herself up, clearly intending to rush in head first.

[keenly]

She is stopped by Colin's grip on her arm. It's not a gentle grip, either. He's looking in horror at the scene and everything in him wants to save this woman the way no one saved him--except one still, small part in the core of him that always dictates such things, always urges caution. He is often given too much to caution, but he does not think that is the case here. Words fail him, and he must stop to try to gather them and explain to Athessa.

[sulahnan]

Her attempts to free herself from his grip are futile, and she watches the carriage disappear and the door close on the man and victim.

"Colin!" She insists, still in a whisper but pitched with urgency. "We can't just sit here and do nothing!"

[keenly]

He wants to believe her. He already hates himself for what he is about to say.

"Athessa," he whispers. "If we do this, if we go in with no plan or backup, she will be the last one we are able to save from him."

[sulahnan]

"Then what do we do? What do we do??" Best case scenario, another girl gets abused and dumped off to fend for herself, or shoved into a brothel to keep her silence. Worst case, she's as good as dead.

[keenly]

Colin bites down on both lips, eyes on the victim, then eyes on Athessa.

"We go to Byerly," he says quietly, "and get his help. This man needs to die, and we'll only have one chance at it."

[sulahnan]

She can't afford to hesitate, to think on it any longer than Colin already has, so she nods.

"Okay."