Grisly Bar
Worn wooden floors stained with ages of spilled drinks (and worse), creak under the feet of patrons as they enter the dark, disordered room. Though dust has settled over a lot of the establishment, making it appear abandoned, the flow of customers would speak differently. Dirty glasses, some with sticky yellow patches in the bottom where beer or scotch has been allowed to dry, stand on one end of the bar.
Several of the windows have been bricked up to prevent vandalism, but create a great fire-hazard. There is a tarnished mirror on the wall behind the bar with a chipped and fading Art Nouveau nymph painted across the bottom.
~
Eli holds considerable sway over the owners of the Grisly Bar. This is why, among other reasons, that he usually takes care of Muea Tseena business at the back of the bar. Tonight, the vast majority of the usual clients are conspicuously empty - leaving more or less the bar filled to the brim with two-natureds. Eli himself is perched upon a tall stool, leaning over the counter as he looks over the open newspaper. "Say, Cinco," he drawls out, his southern accent ringing tried and true. "What's an eleven-lettered word for dangerous?"
~
"Venturesome," Leigh Rossum states as she makes her way into the bar. Glancing around she idly notes, "What's this? About half the pack, Mr. Donato?"
Looking over her shoulder to make sure her 'supplicant' is still behind her, she nods to Brett. "Mr. Coleman, the man at the back there is the one you're looking to speak to."
Eyes flit around the establishment again and she clears her throat. "That being said, next round's on me, and if someone could possibly get me a bottle of water, I'd be most obliged."
~
The moment Brett walks into the bar, there is no doubt in his mind that he's walking into something serious. While the place isn't filled with vampires, which would give him the heebie-jeebies, this is really a very close second. Perhaps it's simply because he doesn't know anyone but Officer Rossum, and at the moment, he's putting a great deal of trust in the woman.
Still, he's got his game face on, smiling even if it doesn't quite reach his eyes. That's not to say he's not appreciative of the time, because he is.
Filing his way through, he gives Leigh a nod of thanks, following it with a spoken, "Okay.. see you back there soon?" A slightly lopsided smile is given to her, but is short lived as he takes a deep breath and makes his way back.
"Mr. Donato? Brett Coleman." He extends his hand in introduction. "I've heard.." he chuckles, "very little about you, honestly."
~
"Oh? Y'got ears like a bat, Rossum. Keep up the good work." A couple of seconds and a few scribbles of his pencils later, it is only then that Eli glances upwards, fixing his eyes upon the newcomers. Particularly the one lacking in the affinity with wolves that the rest of them share. One of these things just doesn't belong… "Aye. I've heard a bit more about you, I'd imagine. You wanted to see me." And he holds out his hand in a surprisingly powerful, firm pump. His lips curl upwards with wry amusement. "Well, you see me, boy."
~
"Don't worry, Coleman. Pretty sure your brother would kill me if I didn't have your back." A gentle tease to help alleviate Brett's potential nervousness. While she waits for two bottles of water and two beers, she taps her fingers upon the bar.
Carrying a tray full of drinks with ease, she settles it onto the table between Brett and Eli, grabbing one of the bottles of water and waiting to be invited to sit before doing so. "I do my best, Mr. Donato. Helps when I'm on duty." Her hearing is by far not as great as that of a vampire, but it's pretty decent for a wolf.
~
Brett clasps the hand, and after the requisite greeting, retrieves it soon after. "A pleasure, sir." Manners.
"I.. uh.. well, I asked for a little bit of time from a vampire I know. See," Whether or not Brett is invited to sit down, he's more than happy to begin his business. "… it seems that his girlfriend was attacked by what he described sounded like a hybrid wolf. On the 24th." Full moon. "He.. was more than a little put out, and I managed to convince him that it wouldn't be good to hunt him down.. without communicating first with you."
~
"Wise man." Eli praises under his breath when Brett explains the situation. "That could have caused problems. A hybrid wolf, you say? As in, one of the Bitten? If that is the case, and the woman has lived without becoming infected herself, then there isn't much of a situation here, period." The pack leader has seen too many random acts of violence, too much bloodshed to be particularly moved by the current story. However, when Leigh approaches with the drinks, she is given a nod of thanks.
~
Cracking open the bottle of water, Leigh looks at the two men, then turns back to Donato. "So far as I've been able to tell, it's not the same hybrid that pulled an attack at the lake a few months ago." Scent was different.
"Problem is, with the shifter attacks as well, these things are getting increasingly difficult to keep under wraps." Taking a long sip from the bottle, she eyes them again. "Made a bit of headway in the Demoin case, but I'm thinking it may have been accidental. Vigilantism due to all the media hype about the black wolf." Seems that Officer Rossum doesn't seem to mind talking freely in front of Coleman.
~
"And if he attacked someone," Brett isn't really comfortable with objectifying a two-natured. 'It' just doesn't ring true with him. "the chances are good that he's new to all of this and simply had no control and no idea. Which tells me he may be new to everything." Which means there may be a problem with a were going around and biting people.
Taking a deep breath, Brett lets it out slowly, "And thus, I asked the vampire to give me a little time before he considered taking things into his own hands."
~
"Very likely," Eli gruffs in agreement with Brett's assessment. "Recently, there's been a bit of a…lets say boom in the presence of Bittens in our community. They are becoming particularly troublesome and difficult to handle." He has no problem admitting this. "We are considering how to handle the phenomenon." Ahem. But then, his attention is drawn over to Leigh instead. "Vigilantism, you reckon? Well…the question is, Miss Rossum, how do we punish that sort of behavior? What do you reccommend?" He is highly, highly intrigued in the following answer.
~
"Abjure whoever is the one doing the biting, and learn to train the Bittens," Leigh says quietly. Abjuration is a rather serious thing, and not one she'd want to subject just anyone to. Not her place to say so, but it's what she would do were she Alpha, and it suits her to have to think about this now rather than later.
Not that she's after Eli's position at all, but in regards to the Lunar Pack back home.
"Legally, vigilantism is handled just like any other case. However, due to the supernatural nature of it, and the knowledge that whomever fired upon Demoin was not aware of his dualistic nature…" She sips from the water again thoughtfully, then shakes her head. "I honestly don't know how to handle it."
~
Eli's words don't fill Brett with a sense of ease, certainly. He doesn't blame the man in the least, no, likening it to having a classroom filled with every type of schoolkid that ever existed from the straight-laced, straight A kid to the potential drop-out who has no desire to do anything except what he pleases, and when. "All I want, sir, is for you to know what was being considered by an old vampire, and wanted to forestall any potential of… conflict."
He smiles tightly, his lips thin, "I'm pretty sure he'd be willing to help look, and having him on 'our' side is a little better than him taking a posse of his own kind out." Just in case it's forgotten, he finishes up with, "Sir."
As for Demoin, well.. Brett's not inside the loop on that one, and therefore not really privvy to the information thus far. He's good with that.
~
Eli turns to stare at Brett then, wrinkled face curling into a tight frown. "I appreciate your concern and consideration," the man offers diplomatically. "But I'm afraid I can't do that. Let the vampire search with us. In fact, if he touches the two-natured, I'm goin' to have to take a more immediate interest in the situation, and he wont like that one bit. We have an accord with the vampires. We stay outta their business, and they stay outta ours. It's a breach in ours laws that I will punish and handle, but he will have to be satisfied with the fact that I will police it." There is no room for leniency, no room for compromise with this issue.
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"S'easy to say, Miss Rossum, but how about when the perpetrator isn't part of the pack? Or when they've already fled, leavin' us with their bastard children to take care of? How about when a Bitten moves into town by their own violation, an' we don't know until its too late? This is why the Alpha exists, Rossum. Take not of that." Eli shifts, leaning back in his seat. "Hell, if the job was easy, any old smuck would be able to do it. Are you certain? About the vigilantism? Do you know the name of the culprit?"
~
"Everything is easy to say, Mr. Donato," Leigh says with a grin. "Jared would generally form a hunting party and go find the culprits," she replies in regards to the biters. "Granted, that doesn't always work." This is why she's not at home, gearing up to step in for daddy-dearest. She's here, trying to get a better grasp on the law, and how to work within it.
"I have no doubt it's why you exist, Mr. Donato. I have nothing but the utmost respect for the Alpha. Any Alpha. Your job is not exactly the easiest." Drifting her gaze toward Brett for a moment, she frowns. "I can likely put you in touch with one of the vampires in the city that works with Mr. Donato, if you really wish. That way you're not giving away your vampire friend to anyone but one of their own kind."
Then back to the pack Alpha. "A suspect, but until I get a solid confirmation…"
~
"Yessir."
It's pretty much what Brett had thought would be said, but at least now he can go back to the vampire with certainty and let the chips fall where they may. Offer was made, turned down. Next move is on both their parts; Eli to move forward (which assumes he hasn't been before now) and Michael to back off.
His business, now, is concluded as far as he's concerned, and anything he learns now he's not all that sure he really needs. He's not a were.
Shaking his head, Brett shrugs. "It's not necessary, Miss Leigh. I'm pretty sure I'll be safe enough when I bring the news back. After all, all I'm doing is being the messenger and putting things back into his court. Should he decide to move forward, he'll know what Mr. Donato here thinks on the matter."
~
"Please let me know when you get the outcome of the investigation, yeah?" Eli nods to Leigh then, clearly appreciative of all the investigative and undercover work she is doing for the good of two natureds everywhere - not only just the pack. "You do your job well, Rossum. Very well indeed." High praise, coming from someone as militaristic as he is. "Anyway, I will be taking everything discussed here under much consideration. Thanks to you both. Now, there anythin' else you all need? Anything left to ask?"
~
A proud smile appears upon her face, and Leigh nods. "Thanks, Mr. Donato. The praise is well appreciated." Finishing off her bottle of water, she places the empty upon the tray. "I'll give you a call as soon as I hear back from the lab. I have no idea how I'm going to deal with this without losing my job, but I'll figure something out." Make it look inconclusive or lose the evidence.
"Alright, Coleman. Keep in mind that if you ever want to, a meeting can be arranged." Since she's the police liaison for the vampire Sheriff as well.
"I'm going to take care of paying for the last round, and I'll meet you at the door."
~
"No sir. Thank you for your time."
Brett looks around again and takes a step back, disengaging him from that 'circle' of discussion. "I'll keep you updated too, sir as to anything I might find out." Not that he's in the thick of it anywhere near Leigh. Another step is taken back in prelude to turning to leave. It's really not the best place for him at the moment, and a prayer of thanks goes up that he's not a rabbit shifter. Or, for all the jokes, an armadillo.
Or a prairie dog.
He smiles lopsidedly at Leigh, "Okay.. thank you for that, but I'm pretty sure it won't be necessary. At least most likely not. I don't want to get his … bosses involved while things are still lowkey and undecided."
Nodding again, he releases a breath, "See you there.
"Mr. Donato, sir," is given in farewell, and turning his back to the man, starts on his way to the door of the establishment.
~
"Aye. Have a good night, kids." And with that, Eli returns to his crossword puzzle. "Say, Cinco…what do you reckon…"
