Saving Parker on the evening of 09-11-19

[Madame]

She accepted the bracelet from Fleur with a gentle smile. “Thank you, where are the other items?” she enquired calmly as she felt the smooth and cold touch of the metal seep through her skin into her somewhat tense hands. “ and I want you all to just focus on Mister Parker. And whatever happens, do not intervene.” Madame quickly explained to the young girl.”you won’t see much of what will actually be going on. But it’s paramount that you-”
But before she could say anything further, Tanner walked up to them and all but shoved one of the newcomers towards her. With a slightly puzzled look she turned to the pair and blinked a few times before asking in a very polite tone. “And who is he?”


Slowly arching an eyebrow, a hunch of what this boy might be for started to dawn on her, and a look of disbelief started to appear on her face. But instead of jumping to conclusions all together she waited for Tanners explanation.
they can't possibly be serious

[Milo Hayes]

It was only belatedly that Milo realized Tanner was dressed... strangely. Reliving the glory days? He hadn’t thought Tanner was that old. And then he saw another man dressed similarly, seated on a barstool. Milo’s brows furrowed, before it slowly dawned on him the day- he’d completely forgotten! And he’d used to love Halloween...

Were he not distracted with the implications of Thomas being missing, he might have been more on edge, walking into a den of vampires. He’d never been in the presence of so many, as strangers. But if they were all intent on saving Thomas, then he would have had to assume anyway that they were all on the same side. And he was one of the best allies for the cause. There was no need to be nervous for his own safety, only Thomas.

Milo nodded as Tanner gestured towards the back of the room, though when the Brujah’s hand found its way to the back of his neck it was difficult not to instinctively tense. He didn’t even mean to test the grip, and while it likely wasn’t even visibly to anyone else, his weight shifted slightly, instinctively, to straighten his spine and press back into the vampire’s hand. It wasn’t even his intention to fight, and a flicker of embarrassment made his knee-jerk anger worse. All he could spare was a quick look so only Tanner might catch it, that he hoped conveyed some manner of regret- that he wasn’t intending to be an asshole. Unfortunate that it came so easily.

It was just that Milo wasn’t big on being touched, especially when already tense, and especially in manners that implied authority over him. Even if that was perfectly appropriate for the setting. Despite the subtle shift in posture, he managed not to let his step falter as he walked along with Tanner, though the vampire likely could feel the redhead was slightly stiff beneath his palm. Though it did annoy him, beneath the knee-jerk anger, somewhere he understood and was still glad Tanner was close by.

He kept his (relative) cool as he was presented to the pair of women. Fleur he was relieved to see, though given the current state of things, he couldn’t quite manage a genuine smile, too worried to provide more than the semblance of one to be polite. Madame quickly drew his attention, and he suspected this was for the best.

“..’m Milo, Thomas’ ghoul,” He offered quietly to her in explanation; the last word still tasted foreign. His tone was a touch reserved, distracted but not intending to be rude. Immediately following, he shifted his shoulder bag forward, flipping open the front flap. Reaching inside, he began to swiftly produce a series of items. The first was a man’s wristwatch, predominantly a polished stainless steel, though the face was a rich aquamarine. The clock hands didn’t seem to be moving. The second was a small photo frame, the picture within clearly Milo, Thomas, and a third unknown figure, and older man with strawberry blond hair and an arm around each of the younger men. Milo definitely looked better in the photograph than he did in person, fresher faced by far to the point of actually looking younger. Maybe because he actually looked happy in the photograph, as opposed to now, where he appeared as if he hadn’t slept in two weeks. Maybe all the black eye makeup he donned currently simply made him look more severe!

The last item was merely a letter sized envelope with the word Thomas’ handwritten on it. It seemed to be somewhat overly full, stuffed with neatly folded papers.

“If one of these doesn’t get his attention, I don’t know what will.” He mumbled softly, seeming slightly uncomfortable as he offered them.

[Thomas Parker]

Earlier that evening..

Parker felt particularly proud of his outfit tonight, the Spider-Man onesie fit him like a glove and he knew at least half of the assembled party guests would not understand the inherent joke. There were some doubts when Duncan told him Cassius would be there, he wasn't sure he wanted to make a humorous statement like that with him there. Honestly, he just didn't want to make Tanner look bad.

With a spring in his step, he walked through the darkened streets of Haarlem, enjoying the quietness of nightfall. Some people were still scuttling around, making their way home in thick coats and fuzzy scarfs. With a lurch, his Beast came to life every time he passed one of them and smelled their Vitae rushing through their veins, like big roaring waterfalls waiting to be tamed by him. And every time he dragged his Beast back in his cage, locking it safely behind sensibility and humanity, knowing that losing his cool would result in disaster. Haarlem didn't need any more disasters and his community certainly didn't need any more attention than it already had.

In a constant struggle with his instinct, combined with nerves and excitement for the Halloween party, Parker didn't really register the billowing mist that drifted out of the alleyway he was about to enter. Then again, it'll never be known if it would have bothered him if he had seen it in time. There's nothing wrong with mist, in fact he liked the mystery of it and the perfect cover it gave him. It made his skin look less distracting than it already did, mixed with a sense of rare privacy.

But the fact of the matter was that Parker didn't see the mist. Out of habit, he turned right into the alley and with careful strides he reached the end of it in a matter of seconds. Or so he should have.

At first, Parker was afraid he had taken a wrong turn, distracted by his panging hunger and the resulting gnawing pain in his stomach. But when he looked over his shoulder, the entrance was gone. In fact, Haarlem was gone. And on the other hand, it wasn't. He was surrounded by buildings that most definitely looked like they were in the city center, but they had all crumbled. The sky had turned a sickening shade of dark green and black and a chill ran down Parkers' spine. The chill was the oddest thing of all. He wasn't supposed to feel cold. Or warm. Or anything for that matter. But he did. And when he looked back he realized why.

Right behind him hung a misty curtain with the vague imprint of a man. It was as terrifying as it was fascinatingly beautiful. His face was wrung into a mask of fear and a loose hanging hospital robe left nothing to the imagination as to the cause of death of what was undoubtedly a spirit. The whole presence of the being left Parker speechless. He couldn't help but stare at it for moments, or maybe hours, he didn't really know.

The trance broke by the appearance of a second being, and a third. Slowly, a whole flock, or cloud, of curious spirits glided closer, the silence deafening in Parkers' ears. Quickly he started moving, pacing away and trying to retrace his steps while frantically searching his pockets. It was almost an instinct to reach for his cellphone and call Milo, but the moment he saw he actually had a signal he relaxed a bit. He wasn't lost to the world. He could communicate. For a second he debated calling the redhead immediately but after some hesitation, he decided against it. Milo would lose it. Tanner wouldn't. He'd call Tanner instead.

[Vid]

Vid's always focused more on body language than on words, but this time his own appearance is a little paradox: suit and tie, mystic tattoo under one eye, and a freaking cane to walk with, don't match how swiftly he is on his feet, and how supportingly he finds Fleur's hand to hold.

Strange enough, trying it's not body language that the traveller notices first. Red hair. Very much so. But the person being brought in seems human, from the tension in his shoulders, and Vid immediately takes a liking to the man for how her subtly opposes the directing force from Tanner.

At the words 'ghoul of Thomas', he does a double take. Anger wells inside him, at the thought of Thomas taking a life into the dark, the wild Thomas they brought back to these lowlands, but then the rational part of his mind kicks in. That's what I would say in his place... Don't jump to conclusions.

So he watches, and listens, but should the red haired man cast him a glance, he'd notice kind eyes that sympathise with his worry over Thomas, in a far subtler way than his hand holding indicates he does with Fleur's obviously fluttering heart.

[Madame]

Madame's other eyebrow lifted as well as the ghoul started to take out multiple items. Her surprised gaze quickly turned into a kind smile as he handed her several very useful objects. "Why thank you Milo, my name is Madame and I'm going to get back Young Mister Parker."
She nodded in a form of greeting, since her hands were now pretty full, and turned on her high heels to pace back to the ritual circle. Stepping into it while making absolutely sure she didn't damage the ring of flower, she places everything she now had of Parker in the middle and walked back to the edge of the circle.

Picking up and putting on the gloves, veil and the small lace cloak she got from Fleur. She also picked up the silver knife and walked back to the centre of the circle.
Turning her veiled eyes to Tanner, Fleur, Milo and even the general direction of Vid, she said to them in an uncharacteristically serious tone. "Do not let anyone intervene under any circumstances." She points at the circle and adds "if that breaks. We die. Or worse, get trapped only the spirits know where."

That said she focusses on the object before her and whispers something only the very keen of hearing might have picked up on, takes a step back and as the air vibrates as if it either heats up... Or maybe more as if she steps into a strange form of mist she vanishes.

On the other side of the veil (where none of those in the normal world could see them) Madame suddenly appears next to Parker in the same strange vibration of mist and smiles at him. "Good evening Mister Parker. I do believe it's time for you to return to us"
With aid of her gloves, it didn't matter how much he would have faded. She would have pulled him back together and back into the here and now. Firmly holding onto him she takes a step back and they both vanish from the spiritual world beyond the veil.

So to the onlookers in the normal world of the living, both Madame and Mister Parker would just have appeared out of thin, vibrating, air. She let go of the young man's shoulders and gestured at him with a smile.
"There... exhausted, but back where he should be. And in one piece I might add."

After this, she left the care of the young man to his friends, who would undoubtedly step in and immediately put their complete focus on him. It would give her the time she needed to take a breath and keep herself composed before gathering her items and pack them into the bag. Only the circle and the personal items of Parker remained.

Silently stepping away she gave the group one last glance and made her way to the exit with a small, but warm, smile on her face.

[Duncan Ackerley]

Cassius witnesses all this with a slight frown on his forehead, his expression betraying nothing accept for attentiveness.

When Parker appears out of thin air together with Madame, he nurses the remainder of his drink and stands up just in time to see her descent the stairs. He nods at her with a polite smile in greeting, knowing they would see each other soon and then walks over to Tanner. He leans in and softly says, without interrupting any other conversations for too long: "We will wait in the car until you have finished your business with Mr. Parker."

He then walks too the coat rack and grabs both Tanner's jacket and his own together with any other items before he leaves the room and exits the building together with his ghoul.