eastbound | video | un: wooden sword & un: widow

[ It is late in the night when the video feed goes live. The scene: a spacious, gilded room in one of the lux summer villas where Messalina's infiltrators have been stationed. Warm candlelight illuminates Yelena, standing with her hands on her hips in front of Natasha, who is seated (if you can call it sitting) in a large, ornate chair with her legs hanging over one of the chair's intricately carved arms.

The pair of them have looked better. Yelena's crisp patrician attire is wrinkled and in some places torn and Natasha only seems presentable because her clothes are dark enough to mask bloodstains. Their faces are smudged with dirt and their hair, once carefully braided back, now resembles a bird nest, complete with loose leaves and small twigs. ]

We've just finished cleaning up after Alir. Again. [ Natasha runs a hand through her hair and makes a face when her palm comes back streaked with blood. Next to her, it's Yelena's turn to address the network. ]

He could have been exposed tonight, or any other night, the way we've all had to cover for him.

He's a problem. So the question is, what are we prepared to do about it?

(OOC: Default color dialogue is Natasha, red dialogue is Yelena. Tag around, threadjack at will. Alir is the shapeshifting demon impersonating Senator Maximus Faustus. Nat and Yelena are opening discussion up between Messalina's infiltrators, most of whom have had to pick up after Alir's appetites, but other party members are welcome to chime in.)

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ He thought calling it 'quality time' was enough to get the point across. ]

Only about half as much as you do.

( MOVING ON. )

How do we achieve this?

The question is how much are you going to listen?

[ They've only been here a few days and everyone is already getting twitchy. It doesn't bode well. ]

There's a chance we can make this work for us, as long as nobody gets impatient.

Elaborate.

Do you think there's a reason I didn't bring this up in the first place?

[ Besides the threat of being exposed, the Merchant won't be happy if he hears they're dabbling in politics. ]

Just know that I'm working on it, and I'll call you when I need you.

...as if a dog.

[ Sorry, buddy. That’s how this works. ]

Did they give you one of those?

My husband mislikes them.

I guess he'll have to settle. [ Ahem. ]

How many fires have you started?

...tally lost.

[ He was afraid of that. Honestly, Messalina couldn't find a shapeshifter with more self control? ]

Alright. So we need to deal with him sooner than later.

Who proceeds?

More than one, if we're going to be careful. [ At least a lookout, and maybe someone else for a distraction. ] We'll need to time it right. I'll have to work out the details.

...depend on me.

[ Weird to hear that coming from him. ]

You have a vendetta now?

He slaughters for sport.

I thought it he did it for hunger. With what we've seen, I'm not sure how much he controls his urges.

[ Which is a bigger problem. ]

Or he just doesn't care.