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[midnightunderground-npcs]

Interview: Dr. Henry Jones

Dossier:

Name: Henry Jones

Age: 45

Species: Human

Circle: Mortalis

Known Relationships: Juno Williams ( Receptionist, Daughter ), Cameron Kiskadden ( Employee? Hopefully More Than ), Elias Hart ( Employee, Intern ), Lilith Gaumond ( Close Friend, Supplier of Medicinal Goods )

Interview:

What's your name?

“Henry Jones, plain and simple.” Pretty inconsequential, like a John Doe or some other name you don’t give a second thought. When he married Eloise he’d even thought of taking her last name but Henry Mercer just didn’t roll off the tongue the same and he didn’t want to let go of his mother’s maiden name. Juno had his grandmother’s at current— that much felt like tradition. It eased the fact the fact that they had to hide her parentage. He couldn’t very well call her Jonesy anymore, a nickname she’d insisted on after watching Coraline one too many times, but she’d always be his Junebug. “Doctor Henry Jones, if that makes much of a difference.”

How do you know Tabitha Spencer?

“The same as I know most people that come to my clinic I’d say. Tabitha comes around for her annual check-up, you know, the usual. Can’t say much else past that due to doctor/patient confidentiality and all...” And a big chunk of working alongside these people was being trustworthy, that you wouldn’t go and tell people about your ailments and all else. “If I remember correctly though, she was lending Juno a hand when designing our patient portal. Juno’s really good with the coding, it’s a little hobby of hers but she wanted Tabitha’s input on the visual. Smart kid, Tabitha, creative and all.”

How do you know Jose Alves Cruz?

Jose he knew less. Henry knew of him from a spectators perspective, seeing the man run his campaign on television and hearing his daughter talk shit about it. That much was the extent of it. “He’s the mayor, I believe. Not the type to visit my clinic, or so he’s never ventured past my doors. All I have of Mayor Jose are opinions really, from what I’ve seen on the news or words I’ve heard from other people but I don’t know him.”

How do you know Hollis Fiala?

If Henry barely saw the mayor then he saw Hollis Fiala never at all. “I do have Fae coming into the clinic, though as far as numbers, they’re the lowest when we count the patient demographics. It’s harder for Faeries, I’d say, trusting that I’d know enough of their physiology to help or even trusting me with information about them so I can tend to their injuries or other ailments. So I get some here and there but you’d understand why an heir wouldn’t necessarily want to come to a clinic like this one. I tended to their shoulder after they were shot, with what I know of Fae and all, but I’d heard they crossed the veil after. To be treated by the in house doctor, I’m sure.”

Did you see the shot/what happened that night from your perspective?

A necessary question with a more-so embarrassing answer. Between texting his kid like the overbearing father he could be and admiring the slope of Cameron’s nose, he hadn’t been the most perceptive when all was said and done. “Well, I heard the gunshot, the first one...and you know, firing a gun is as dangerous as yelling fire in an enclosed space. People panic, you have a crowd of people running for the exists and its easy to trip on your feet and get trampled. Lucky that didn’t happen. So there’s the first but I look around and don’t see any blood and then I hear the second. Suppose that one met its target. Hollis’ shoulder. Not the worst place to be shot I’d say. Not from experience more from a doctor’s perspective. Often a clean shot through the shoulder, very rarely does it knick something dangerous. After that, I’d spent some time tending to their shoulder as I mentioned. Lilith and Elias were assisting me with that much. I’d brought a first aid kit, one of those bigger ones you’d see inside a paramedic’s truck. Had a few things that could help, glad for it.”

When did you get the invitation for the party/know you were going to work it?

“Attending the party wasn’t part of the plan originally. It was just going to be a night in,” dinner and movie with the kids but that wasn’t information anyone really needed to know. “I’d say that I knew some days before the actual party. Well more than a few days— enough time to prepare yourself for whatever was to come during the New Years Eve event.”

Did you go with someone?

“Yeah, I—” the doctor pauses for a moment, readjusting his glasses in order to give himself some time to formulate just the right answer. It hadn’t been a date, per se, but then, shave off all those less than favorable pieces and some of it felt like just that. “Cameron invited me to go. As back-up, I’m assuming.” Though he may have done a poor job at that, spending most of that time pining after his not-date. 

Do you own a gun/have you ever owned a gun?

With every single hyper-fixation he’d had in his life, every desire to consume all the knowledge in this world, guns have never sparked much interest. Then he came to the Underground and tried humoring the idea— but all it took was one ‘no’ from his daughter and he’d set the thought aside; ‘guns hurt inexperienced people more than they hurt other people...or something like that, I’m not a statistics major,’ she’d said. “I’ve never owned a gun, no...hippocratic oath and all. A doctor with a gun on his hip would be a weird thing...and I want these people to trust me. They can’t very well turn to anyone else, go to Unaware hospitals. Imagine a vampire, undead, gorgon, whatever walking through those doors, seeking help and I’m standing there armed...Juno, she says, do no harm, take no shit and I don’t really need a gun for that.”

[midnightunderground-npcs]

Interview: Cameron Kiskadden

Dossier:

Name: Cameron Kiskadden

Age: 51

Species: Human — Legacy Hunter

Circle: Mortalis

Known Relationships: Clara and Thomas Kiskadden (parents, deceased), Malcolm, Taye, Gillean, Elspeth, Orla, Reyne, and Ross Kiskadden (siblings, deceased), Kenneth Talbot (husband, deceased), Daniela and David Talbot (children, deceased), Connor and Austin Talbot (nephews), Lilith Talbot (mother-in-law), Esmeray Talbot (niece-in-law), Kellan Trebond and Sebastian Harker (former apprenticed hunters and New Year’s team), Chloe Li, Matthew Coleman-Reyes, and Elias Hart (New Year’s team), Henry Jones (volunteer employer, New Year’s team, “Think it’s safe to say we’re close.”)

Interview:

What’s your name?

“Thank you, for that,” Cam started, taking that coffee Kel had brought along from Pete’s. A sip, then an answer. “Cameron Kiskadden. Lyall, in the middle, if you need the whole thing.” Just, never together, never in order. You didn’t give away your name, like that. Force of habit. 

How do you know Tabitha Spencer?

“As Bash’s kid sister. So, since she was little. Before she got bit, even.” Yeah, he’d missed that. Like he’d missed so many things. Tibby had been lucky, it seemed; to be turned and survive, and in a place where she could be brought into a pack, supported. Lucky. Until now, apparently. “Shy, to start with. Sweet kid. Loves Bash to bits. She was getting to be a real history buff, all full of questions. Don’t know if she kept up with it. I’ve seen her around the shelter, since I got back to town. Seemed happy. And so young, still, but.” He shrugged, with a tired smirk. “We don’t all do it in wolf years.” 

How do you know Jose Alves Cruz?

“Through work. Once upon a time.” He whistled, suddenly and sharply, eyes on the dogs as they ripped off a little too far for his liking. “Hey, come! Here!” With a wild round of coyoteish song-and-barks, they spun and started back. “Him and his family’ve been up in the politics of this place for as long as I recall. Just about inevitable I’d run into them, especially once I got to leading a Circle, nevermind running for Orator.” Aware, embroiled in the political workings of the Underground and Unaware Las Vegas, both; a necessary evil, his folks had always figured, and even then, they’d curled a lip at the necessary. Like it was getting any easier to keep their home hidden, in this ever brighter, ever fuller world, so surveilled and tested and documented. There were fairer reasons to dislike the man. The sharpness in little Jo’s voice, the bright burning shine to her furiously unhappy eyes, even years ago, and now, less little, but bitterer still - that was all high on his. Cam held his coffee out of dog-tongue reach as he half-bent to meet the pack, patting shoulders, scratching jowls and ears, grimacing - with love - through the canine kisses. “He always was a thrall, even back then. Quiet about who to, like most of them. But he said it himself, during the party - sucking right up to Harker and Whitlock about how he’d be a worthy asset to whoever took the seat, even though he’s thralled to Fiala. Politics in action, huh?” He almost laughed. Not quite. Because it wasn’t funny, for a Circle Leader, nevermind a would-be Orator, to have that kind of power over somebody of Jose’s standing, out there in the Unaware world. Then again, what the hell would a royal heir know about power but how to consolidate that shit - so as to abuse it best? 

How do you know Hollis Fiala?

“By reputation, by their campaign. By their dealings, mostly.” To be as politic, yeah, and specific, as he’d be. Not getting into how pettily, pissily, murderously sadistic they’d shown themselves to be, accepting what Connor’d offered them, to get to Esme. Like they didn’t know what it’d do, to take his wolf. As if they didn’t understand the state he was in, when he put that promise on the table. Then again, what would they understand about it? Being prepared to suffer, and die, for someone you loved. What did that even mean, when pain was for other people, and death, too? Esme knew. That much, he was sure of. And she’d know better than ever, now. But Hollis? They knew how to take advantage. That much was real fucking clear.  And now they’d let his nephew run again. On their leash. So they could feel so goddamn magnanimous, he’d suppose. Until they decided they liked him and his wife better in agony. Dying, moon by moon. But Kel wasn’t asking for anything so personal, and the case didn’t need it. And neither did Connor; Fiala’s graces were bullshit, but bought time, all the same. Time to save him. So. Cam wrinkled his nose, with something only vaguely like a smile. Closer to a snarl. “Yeah, that’s about it.”

Did you see the shot/what happened that night from your perspective?

“I didn’t see who had hands on the gun, no.” Gloved hands. Goddamn, he’d just hope whoever they got on the evidence could find a way around that thin, thin layer of so-fucking-simple protection the shooter’d scored. Black tie, right? Unremarkable.  “Our Oracle saw that the shooting would go on at some point during the fireworks, so midnight, or close to. We’d put together a little divining, to help keep Karlha and everyone safe from whatever the hell this might be. Something to look for silver, so, the bullets, or, ideally, the gun, loaded with them. And a craft from the washerwoman, which’d point us to anyone who intended to hurt Karlha, whoever was out to cause her death. Both were built to a hell of a high standard, I can tell you that.” With the help they’d had, yeah. Work well done. “Those in hand, we turned up a silver bullet in a box, under the bar. With a maker’s mark. Not one I recognize, except from some of the gear carried by those shitstains who went around kidnapping and torturing our people, put us all in lockdown…” And wasn’t that funny. “If you’d like to match the mark, I’m sure it got some sort of documented when Harker’s people processed the bodies, their things.” He’d left plenty of that marked shit behind; more of those hunters had been carrying that sigil than not. No way to miss it. Back to the night of, though. “The washerwoman pointed us to the table Jose and Tibby were at. Jose’d already snuck past the magic we had out for silver, at the door. Those bodyguards, right.” Those fucking bodyguards. Ganymede wailed for attention, his coppery nose in the air; Cam hushed him, softly, curling a hand over that snout and petting the dog quiet. “So we kept eyes on. Jose dropped something. Gave one of those guards a look about it. Guard picked it up, I didn’t see what, and put it in Tibby’s purse, while she was paying attention to Karlha, onstage. Then, off we go: I heard something like two shots, one after the other. I was closest, so I went to Jose and Tibby. One of those guards had already got ahold of her, and Jose was down, with her purse in his hands. Already telling me it was Tibby who’d fired. The whole place was going to hell, so. Rather than risk losing the damn gun, I put it in a napkin. Stayed right there, for whatever proper authority turned up. That’d be Karlha. I gave her the gun, and - got Dr. Jones home, after he was done seeing to Hollis.” There. Thorough. 

When did you get the invitation for the party/know you were going to work it?

“The invitation showed up like it did for everybody, I suppose. Didn’t think anything of it until I was asked along by Chloe Li. The Oracle.” He felt the need to say it, to remind whoever’d be listening of the Power they’d been trusting in. The person had been enough for him, but - an Oracle, that ought to mean something to anybody in the Underground. Anybody who knew enough to be worth listening to, at least. “Told me she’d had a vision about Karlha being killed, shot, with silver, and people being hurt. And the things she sees have never done anything but save lives, before, so.” A taibhsear talks, you listen. Sorcha’s words, for him, not some investigation. But he spoke with the sureness of all he’d been taught, and all Chloe’d shown him. Answer enough, far as he was concerned.

Did you go with someone?

Kel knew this one, like they knew a good few of these. But the recording wasn’t for Kel, so. “When Chloe came to me, she’d already got a team together. Lilith Talbot, Bash Harker, Elias Hart, who Thaddeus’d asked to the whole thing, and Matthew Coleman-Reyes, a friend of his. Then, I roped you in.” There was a smile. A little apologetic, perhaps. Mostly proud. They’d done damn well, in the midst of all that, slung up and all. Of course they had. “Dr. Henry Jones, of the clinic, was also good enough to join us. At my invitation. As medical support, in case the worst went on.” Or less than that, as it turned out. As much a mess as this was, at least it wasn’t what Chloe’d been so afraid of… 

Do you own a gun/have you ever owned a gun?

“Only what my family kept around, on the lot - rifles, shotguns. For the other sort of hunting, you know, game, birds. We knew how to use a pistol, of course. Didn’t take any of that to work, though. Not our way.” At least, not in his time. Whatever his family’d got up to in all those years he’d been gone… well, he’d be looking into that. Had nothing to do with Tabitha, though. Callie had got to grumbling, and Cam scoffed, fondly, and looped an arm around and under her shoulder, for a belly rub. He turned Kel’s way, squinting up through the pale winter sunlight, properly smiling, now. “Nice interview, Emissary. There’s pig ears in the red bag, there. Go on and spoil them. Just a little.”

[midnightunderground-npcs]

Interview: Chloe Li

Name: Chloe Li Age: 26 Species: Human (Clairvoyant) Circle: Power Known Relationships: Connor Talbot II (Best Friend), Thaddeus James (Circle Leader), Karlha Whitlock (Formerly Indebted to), Lilith Gaumond (Close friend/date for the evening + avoid end of the world gang), Cameron Kiskadden, Kel Trebond, Elias Hart, Matthew Coleman-Reyes, Sebastian Harker (avoid the end of the world gang), Esmeray Talbot (ex-girlfriend/friend/bound to)

What’s your name?

“Is— what is this, procedural? Whatever, sorry, I know. You ask, I answer.” It’s not like either her or Nora love this situation. She clears her throat and starts again, “Chloe Li.” 

How do you know Tabitha Spencer?

”I don’t really know her,” Chloe says simply. “I know her Brother, Bash, better than I know her. But, I’ve never heard a bad word uttered about her, either. It’s always been ‘wow, what a nice kid’ or things like that.” And, maybe there was a bit of bias in that idea. She had been there that night, she had been watching everything with an Eagle’s eye, and more so, she knew the power of gut feeling. Whatever happened that night was not on Tabitha.

How do you know Jose Alves Cruz?

Chloe shrugs, pushing herself back in her seat as her head falls back over the back of the chair before coming back to a seated position. “Another one of those Underground Namesakes. He’s the Mayor, but everyone knows that. I know he’s Jo’s Dad. I know he dodges Security, and he’s a tried to true politician for better or worse. Likely worse, if you ask me, but I guess that’s just an opinion.” She leans forward then. “I also know I saw him that night right before the fireworks off looking far too uneasy for someone watching a bunch of speeches about how great the Underground can be.”

How do you know Hollis Fiala?

“This is all on the record, right?” Better not to berate a Circle Leader for a court made up of the very same people. Whether Hollis had any say over the thing or not, Chloe didn’t need another enemy. “They’re the Circle Leader for the Wild. Related to Cerese, descendant of the High Court in the Fae realm— take your pick of the titles they tote and then some. I know they took an iron bullet to the shoulder that night at the party. That’s about as much interaction as I’m willing to have with them at this point, though.”

Did you see the shot happen/what happened that night from your perspective?

“I didn’t see the shot go off,” Chloe explains, “Shit happened fast— Can I curse during this? Whatever. I remember hearing two shots, and given that I was there due to seeing a vision that there would be a possible attempt on Karlha Whitlock’s life that night? I admit that my attention went to her first. By the time I realized it wasn’t her that had been shot at, everything was over, and the crowd started panicking. For the record, I couldn’t tell you what happened in my vision for that shot to go from Karlha to Hollis, but clearly something changed, because that Washerwoman craft we had with us that night told us clearly there was someone there who meant to harm Karlha. That much I can say as a fact.”

When did you get the invitation for the party/know you were going to work it?

“Whenever the mail decided to drop it off. It’s more of a courtesy, though, being in the Power Circle. You know you’re going to that party before the invitation comes, might as well forget about making other New Years plans if you want to stay in some sort of decent standing with the rest of the Circle. I’ve known I was going since New Years last year.” She shifts, almost nervously. “It was a little different this year, though, I’ll admit. That vision I mentioned earlier? The one about Karlha? I had reason to believe that attempt would take place at the party. And, so, I got some people together, and we decided we were going to put a stop to that. We had medical supplies, counter protective measures in place, and crafts in an effort to help us sniff out the danger before it came to any shots being fired. Clearly, we were not that lucky, but at least Karlha is alive.” Hollis, too, though Chloe was still debating if that was a relief or a shame. 

Did you go with someone?

“Depends on how you mean. If you were to ask anyone there, Lilith Gaumond was my date. But, really, I was there with a few people. Lilith, Cam, Kel, Elias, Matthew, and Bash. We were all there with the same goal in mind: Keep Karlha alive. Like I said, it doesn’t make sense how that switched. Up until a couple hours before midnight, it still seemed like someone was out for Karlha, and she’s very much fine, thank Guide and Cicerone for that. I’m just going to keep harping on that one, because it makes exactly zero fucking— sorry —zero sense, seeing as Tibby is a part of Karlha’s pack. Why the fuck would she go into that party with the plan to hurt Karlha and pivot to shoot Hollis instead?”

Do you own a gun/have you ever owned a gun?

“No, never owned one. I’ve never really felt the need. Maybe I’m overly confident in how well I can defend myself with bear mace and my fists, but it wasn’t something that ever crossed my mind as a necessity.” Recent events had slowly amended that thought, but she had a machete and a few knives now. She still didn’t feel the need to wield such a lethal weapon. “I’ve shot BBs during Summer Camp as a kid, and most recently a Dart Gun to deal with a situation. But that’s the most involvement I’ve had with firearms at this point.” She takes a deep breath, and shakes her head. "Does that even matter? This place is so fucked up. I’m telling you, I know Tibby wouldn’t just do this. I don’t even know the kid, and I can tell you that. She has no reason to shoot Hollis, no motivation, no personal gain— If people could open their eyes for ten seconds, they might see just how weird this entire thing is, too.”

@midnightunderground-npcs​​

[midnightunderground-npcs]

Name: Elias Hart

Age: 25

Species: Aware

Circle: Mortalis

Known Relationships: Connor Talbot II (Boss), Matthew Coleman-Reyes (Roomate), Esmeray Talbot (Friend?), Sebastian Harker (Boyfriend???) Thaddeus James (Indebted to), Cameron Kiskadden, Kel Trebond, Chloe Li (A-Team)

— What's your name?

He eyed Kel with a grin, deciding not to comment on how embarrassing it must have been to ask such a silly question to the people they knew, “Elias Bartholomew Hart,” a pause “I’m kidding. Elias Sullivan Hart.” He fiddled around in the kitchen, darting this way and that before plating a piece of freshly set pie and placing it in front of the other, “Coconut cream. Tell me how it tastes. Tweaked the recipe and I’m wondering if it’s too much coconut and not enough cream. Eat it before it melts.” He pulled out the chair across from Kel and plopped down into it as if it was the first time he stopped moving that day, as he breathed out it seemed the apartment sighed with him; both settled comfortably into their bones. He made no move to hide how he stared pointedly at the recorder placed perfectly in between the middle of them, “Is that necessary? Will this be played for the court?”

— How do you know Tabitha Spencer?

He shook his head, a long and drawn out movement for an emphasis that others wouldn’t get to see, “I don’t. Didn’t talk to her during the party. Watched her. Listened. The only reason I know of her is because I’m friends with Bash. Though. From what I’ve gathered. She doesn’t seem like...” his gaze fell to the recorder and he snapped his mouth shut, teeth making an audible click “Doesn’t matter. Just useless conjecture.”

— How do you know Jose Alves Cruz?

He sucked air between his teeth and raised his shoulders to his ears, nose scrunched up and eyebrows furrowed, “He’s the mayor?” He looked towards Kel, silently asking if that was correct, “I don’t follow politics, so I don’t know much- Oh! He’s Jo’s dad. Dodgy dude. It seemed like-” gaze once again fell onto the recorder, “It seemed like this was the type of event he was used to. Bodyguards and all.”

— How do you know Hollis Fiala?

The gleam in his eyes dulled as he set his jaw, every muscle in his body tensed as if he was about to pounce with claws out to tear through even the tiniest sound, “They’re a circle leader.” And that was all he had to say.

— Did you see the shot happen/what happened that night from your perspective?

“I did not. But I heard it.” This particular question had caught his full attention, words waiting on his tongue for the chance to spill out when no one could catch them “There were two shots, but only one bullet. Not because it was lost or lodged into something. It was. Not. There. There was no second bullet. A perfect distraction if you ask me, cause the crowd to rile…u..p” His gaze snapped up to meet Kel’s, eyes wide with realization before it was quickly distinguished by an awkward laugh, “Uhm. Everything was Chaos. It was good that Hollis’ healing went well. They’re lucky it was just the shoulder, honestly one of the best places to get shot.”

— When did you get the invitation for the party/know you were going to work it?

He hummed, “In the mail. I can’t recall when. Probably around the same time everyone else did, that’s how the postal service works. Mine was different though.” Elias reached into a wooden stand hung up on the wall and plucked out the invitation, giving it to the other, “Mr. Thaddeus was rather adamant on me coming. Why, you may ask? I don’t know. The group didn’t even need me, you had two other capable healers. Suppose I went to watch someone get shot again.” And leave with nothing, is what he wanted to say but decided against it.

— Did you go with someone?

“Kind of.” He fiddled with the edge of the fraying tablecloth that hung precariously off the table, put there minutes before Kel walked through the door in a poor attempt to spruce it up, “You were there. Don’t you know?-“ He cut himself off, remembering a bit too late that this was all a formality, “You, Chloe, Matthew, Lilith, Bash, and Cam. I didn’t go with someone specifically though. Which was for the best, it was a terrible night. Everything was off, we did everything right. From the looks of it, it seems like…” he sighed, “It was weird.”

— Do you own a gun/have you ever owned a gun?

He made a choked sound that was immediately covered by a forced laugh, “Uh. No. Never. They’re dangerous.” He pushed away from the table, picking up the dirty plate as he walked towards the kitchen sink, “Though. I suppose they’d be needed now more than ever.” The dish clattered amongst leftover silverware, “I’ve shot one before. Weird bonding exercise with my college hockey team.” Facing away from Kel he shut his eyes tight and white knuckled the edge of the counter, maybe he said too much?

@midnightunderground-npcs

[midnightunderground-npcs]

clemxjohnson​:

~

“Very weird,” She agrees, “I’ve been on the receiving end of enough of it, I like to try and break the cycle where I can.” Her entire world view was built around the scrutiny of others in her life. It was the one thing she was trying to shake herself free from, and yet it felt as if it followed her everywhere. Judgement on her species that she had been conditioned to pass on to herself despite the fact that she had been working so hard to unlearn all of that.

Clementine does her best to absorb the emotional blow that hits her at the mention of her party. One she would rather forget if she’s honest, but that’s not a story she wants to disclose to a perfect stranger, even if he is aware of who she is and what she is. It’s far from a point of pride. “I’m sure there will be plenty more where this comes from, honestly. Good to know I have a go to shop to bring stuff to now.”

So they are Aware. That’s something. And, for all intents and purposes, he seems friendly and charming. Harmless, really. She takes his outstretched hand and shakes it herself, heart skipping a beat at the sound of Devlin paired with her name. It’s nothing she can quite pinpoint emotionally, but it stirs a reaction in her all the same.

“It’s nice to meet you. My friends call me Clem, if you’d rather. And, uh, it’s Johnson. Clementine Johnson. At least from a legal standpoint.” Unless she decided to change that, though it seemed easier not to in some regard. “Although, I have to admit, I’m curious who thinks I’m scary. Anyone who’s ever known me would know that’s so ridiculous it’s comical.” She could barely hurt a fly. Perhaps it just came with the Devlin reputation, but she wasn’t sure how to cope with that just yet.

◇ ◆ ◇  

The thought of a chance at anything hidden inside the Devlin mansion makes his skin tingle. Strange collectables have always been exciting, though a thrift store doesn’t lend itself as well to the really valuable things. Still, there are places to sell them, to bigger names and shops that are willing to pay more than what they paid. It’s all a part of the second hand business. Clementine could really set them up with something good with all that stuff inside a very big house. He wondered how many rooms just had something unknown and priceless hidden in them. Bonnie would lose her mind with excitement.

When she shakes his hand, Beauregard offers that gentle little smile again. Her hands are soft, the kind that haven’t ever really had to do a lot of pain and hard work, which is good. Not everyone deserves the scars and callouses he has.

“Okay so Legally Clementine Johnson. Is that your full name?” Beau teases, setting the box down so he can talk to her better without something between them. “It’s a good one. Unique. But who would I be to judge on that? I don’t think people have been named Beauregard and Bonnibel since the 1800s.”

“As far as the scary? I think it’s mostly because most people don’t really know what Dhampir can do. I know I sure don’t. You’re rare, unique. That’s not a bad thing though. Lots of the stuff in here is and people love it.”

[midnightunderground-npcs]

Interview: Damian Harker

Dossier:

Name: Damian Harker

Age: 58

Species: Human - Hunter

Circle: Mortalis

Known Relationships: Sebastian Harker (Nephew), Tabitha Spencer (Pseudo-Niece), Hollis Fiala, Thaddeus James, and Karlha Whitlock (Fellow Circle Leaders), Jose Alves Cruz (Coworkers of Sorts)

Interview:

What's your name?

“Damian Harker,” he says with practiced ease, looking at the clock above their heads. It ticks with each passing second - each second he could be with Tabitha or Sebastian or doing something to help ease their sufferings. And yet he’s stuck here being interviewed over a baseless accusation. 

How do you know Tabitha Spencer?

He takes a long suffering deep breath before turning on a smile, though it hardly even reaches the levels of practiced politician he has going for him. “Tabitha is Sebastian’s half sister. We’re not related by blood but he cares for her and so do I. She’s a smart girl. She wouldn’t throw her life away for what ultimately amounts to nothing.”

How do you know Jose Alves Cruz?

“The mayor, you mean?” Damian, despite himself, snorts. “We work closely together. It’s my job as the Mortalis leader to keep the Aware and the Un safe as well as away from as much business as they can. I suppose he’s been perfectly tolerable in assisting me. Being a thrall, however, well,” he decides to take a turn of phrase from Tabitha. “Could not possibly be me.”

How do you know Hollis Fiala?

Damian takes a long an labored breath, irritation finally showing through his facade. It’s been crumbling since New Years Eve and every poke and prod brings him closer to the edge of explosion. And no one will want to be in the wake of that. “We’re circle leaders, them and I and Karlha and Thaddeus. We do our jobs. We’ve worked together closely for some time and I had thought I could trust them. I suppose you can trust no one save your own kin. I’ve learned that now.”

Did you see the shot happened/What happened that night from your perspective?

Damian adjusts himself and closes his eyes in hopes to remember more than just nothing. “It was one of only a few moments I wasn’t with her. She’s young, a fresh wolf in their eyes, and I wanted to make sure she stayed safe. But I’d been out with Hollis. It’s custom for the leaders to sit together at these events; a show of solidarity with one another. I’d been right beside them when the shot happened. The first one sounded closer than the second. I react quickly to gunfire. I’m a hunter. And I looked to Fiala and I did not see the kind of look of shock someone who believes themselves immortal would experience in that moment.”

When did you get the invitation for the party/know you were going to work it?

“It’s an event that happens every year. It isn’t a surprise. Mr. James and Mrs. Whitlock try their best to think they’re secretive of their relationship, but I’m sure Mx. Fiala and I have known for some time, even if we haven’t vocalized our suspicions to each other. It’s a beautiful event regardless. I knew I would attend because I had told them as much when they mentioned the event coming out. I’ve gone all the years before. If I hadn’t, I’d have looked a fool. And I will tell you, I am no fool.”

Did you go with someone?

Damian sighs and rubs the space between his brow. He wonders, briefly, if things could even get worse than they are now for him and his family. “Tabitha was my date, of sorts. We were going together so she didn’t have to be alone. The night was supposed to be exciting for her, that she’d even gotten and invitation at all.”

Do you own a gun/have you ever owned a gun?

“I’m used to be a hunter, Kel, I own many guns and many of them are equipped to shoot both Fae and Wolf and Vampire alike. That is our job, it’s what we do. I’ve since given up the occupation but that doesn’t mean I don’t keep them around out of necessity. When you’re the Mortalis circle leader, there are many people looking to get you, some of which impossibly close. I keep myself safe with my things. I keep my family safe.” Or I used to, he wanted to add, but he can’t bring himself too, standing up abruptly as he brings a fist to his eye to push back the tears. “If that is all, I need to go check on my nephew. I hope you’re doing my due diligence.”

[midnightunderground-npcs]

Interview: Jose Alves Cruz

Dossier:

Name: Jose Alves Cruz

Age: 50

Species: Human - Thrall

Circle: Mortalis

Known Relationships: Marcia Alves Cruz (Deceased Wife), Josefina Anita Alves Cruz (Daughter), Hollis Fiala (Thraller), Damian Harker (Business Partner of Sorts)

Interview:

What's your name?

“My name?” The mayor smiles easily, setting down his files so he can focus forward on the hunter before him. Hunters and thralls were truly two opposites of the spectrum a simple human could exist as in the Midnight Underground - the Aware falling flatly in the middle. Love the Supernatural so much you tie yourself to them, or hate them enough to spend your life dedicated to their deaths. Of course it was never quite so simple as that. There had been Cameron, the one who had fallen in love with the wolf. Poor man, truly. “Jose Antonio Alves Cruz is my name.”

How do you know Tabitha Spencer?

He takes a few seconds to really ponder the question - how can he answer this as honestly as possible. “I don’t know her well at all. Until I saw her reach for the gun and shoot Mx. Fiala, I didn’t even care to know her name. There are a lot of wolves in the Underground. I hope you can understand how I, a humble thrall, wouldn’t be so privy to all their names. As Mayor I’m more well versed in the Aware and those that aren’t. And Tabitha isn’t the type of wolf you ask to thrall you. She’s too young and too reckless. As you can tell from tonight.”

How do you know Jose Alves Cruz?

The question is redundant. The man before Kellan knows himself probably better than most people do and he looks forward at them with a politicians easy kind of smile.

How do you know Hollis Fiala?

“I’m sure you’ve heard through the grapevine by now just how I now Hollis Fiala,” Jose jokes and gestures to his arm, still in the sling from the bruising pain that’s been there ever since the shot rang out. The woes of being the thrall were simply that. When your thraller hurt, so did you. But when they flew high, well, that was intoxicating, an addiction that was easy to fall for. Temptation had always been the rotten curse in his family line. He thinks for a moment about Josefina who he had trapped in the same curse. It was better this way. “I’m their thrall.”

Did you see the shot happened/What happened that night from your perspective?

“It was all very fast, I hope you can understand.” Jose begins slowly, deliberately, like every word that follows takes him a considerable amount of effort and thought. “I heard something that sounded like a gunshot and then there was an actual gunshot. I felt this pain blossoming in my shoulder and I knew Hollis had been hit. Thralls are tied to their thrallers and as such we feel everything they feel. Though the opposite direction is less intense. What a silly thing for Fae to feel something a human does, for example. Nothing I have experienced has hurt quite so badly. Next thing I knew there was a scuffle and my guards had grabbed Miss Spencer and the gun was on the floor. None of the people paid to protect me would shoot someone who would hurt me indirectly so there was something else to assume. Both Hollis and myself had been shot by Tabitha Spencer. I feel sorry for Damian. He’s a good man.” Though when he says that, well, the smile does not quite reach his eyes.

When did you get the invitation for the party/know you were going to work it?

“I suspected I would get an invitation as I do every year since I’ve been mayor of Las Vegas. To have someone Aware, let alone a thrall, in the back pocket of the Underground is useful so I think they try to keep me on their side by showing me just how human you can all be.” Jose smiles, shaking his head. “It isn’t necessary though. I’m already here. Karlha and Thaddeus are quite the happy couple, aren’t they? Marcia and I would have been celebrating our 27th wedding anniversary this year.”

Did you go with someone?

“I did not. I would have gone with my wife, but, as you know she passed away recently, in November. I’m still in grieving and I haven’t put much thought into it. We were married a long time, over two decades. You can understand that, I’m sure. And I would have brought Josefina, but she had other plans for the evening. Busy thing, my little girl. So very, very much like her mother.” Unfortunate as it was. But he left that part off.

Do you own a gun/have you ever owned a gun?

Jose laughs, mostly because he thinks the line of questioning is a bit silly. He points to the gun safe sitting only a few feet away from him in his office. “As you can see, I do. Many of them. I’m a thrall working as the mayor of a dangerous town with an even more dangerous underbelly that would love nothing more than to take advantage of me and mine. Beyond that, I go hunting quiet often. Duck, deer, anything, really. So yes, I have guns. You’re more than welcome to look through them if you like. All of them are registered in the Unaware databases and I would be happy to have that proof printed off for you to look over at your own discretion. Now, if you don’t need anything else, I have to go back to some documents. I may be part of your world, but I’m also part of the other one and I’ve promised you both plenty.”

[midnightunderground-npcs]

clemxjohnson​:

~

Clementine laughs off his comment, tucking the loose hair around her face back behind her ears in a halfhearted effort to break eye contact over the compliment. It was stupid to be so flattered, but something about the way he delivered the line, the way it seemed to just roll of his tongue without pause or effort, made it that much more charming in the way it sunk into her skin, leaving a blush behind.

It’s only after the initial words seep in that Clem clocks exactly what he’s saying. Clearly, like much of her life, she had managed to stumble into another faction of their weird little world without intention. At least this seemed to be friendly. 

“No, I know what you’re saying,” Clem insists, pulling down another frame from off the pile, as he inspects the one he initially pulled free, “It’s pretty hard to look like an idiot in front of me, anyway. I try not to be the judgemental type if I can help it.”

She taps gently on the top of one of the frames, “To answer your other question, the Devlin estate. Don’t worry, nothing is stolen or anything.” It wasn’t exactly a decent secret anymore just who Clementine was. Not after the Times put her party on blast. Plus, with the impending will reading coming up somewhere between the other pockets of chaos the Underground was facing, it wasn’t going to be a secret for much longer.

◇ ◆ ◇

Beauregard smiles as she blushes, feeling himself get a little lighter. It’s always nice to be regarded warmly, especially after the life he’s spent being thought of as nothing more than trailer trash, so when the pretty girl turns pink at his compliment he can’t help but feel a little proud. Boulder City has been good for both him and his sister. Bonnibel likes the quiet and he likes feeling like someone who matters.

“No judgement? Pretty weird to find in this world, don’t you think?” And he’s always been honest to a fault so when he says it, he means it. This world is anything but honest. It’s anything but kind. He’s had to do a lot to make sure him and his sister stay safe and happy and healthy. Enough to eat. A place to sleep. Necessities and comfort. And now that they have it, he isn’t keen on letting it go.

Still, the smile stays because if nothing else the girl seems nice. She easily confirms his suspicions. “I thought maybe. There’s a lot of buzz about that going on. I heard you threw one hell of a party. I have to say, I don’t mind taking things from the Devlin Estate and I’m sure my sister is going to lose her mind at the idea of these kind of old finds.”

Beau pauses and shakes his head. “Oh I didn’t even introduce myself, did I. Beauregard Abbott, owner of this find place. My sister is Bonnibel but she’s in the back working on sorting through some stuff. Crowd doesn’t really sit right with her. We’re nothing special, just two people who know a little bit too much, so we try to keep our heads down. And you’re Clementine Devlin. I figured I wouldn’t hold you up on all of that. It’s nice to meet the rumors in the flesh. You’re not half so scary as some people are saying.”

[midnightunderground-npcs]

Interview: Tabitha Spencer

Dossier:

Name: Tabitha Spencer

Age: 24

Species: Werewolf

Circle: Night

Known Relationships: Sebastian Harker ( Half-Brother ), Damian Harker ( Pseudo Uncle ), Connor Talbot II ( Crush ), Karlha Whitlock ( Pack Leader ), Thaddeus James ( Pseudo Family Friend by proxy of Karlha and Bash )

Interview:

What's your name?

It’s such a simple question but it feels so difficult to answer. She feels smaller than she ever has, sitting in a room that feels much too warm in its decorations. The juxtaposition of it all was disorienting and maybe that was purposeful; the room was more miniature suite than anything else, a safety she’d lose so soon as they pulled her from it. She decides then that Faeries were truly cruel in their trickery, but turning to Connor she tries to find her voice, “Tibby— sorry, no, Tabitha. Tabitha Spencer.”

How do you know Tabitha Spencer?

Very much not applicable and can’t even be a joke question, the girl is strugglin’.

How do you know Jose Alves Cruz?

Tabitha tenses then, remembering the events of that night; she should’ve fucking stayed home and watched another episode of New Girl. “He’s um...he’s the Mayor...we were at the same table.” And that was all she’d say on the matter. It was all she would be able to say.

How do you know Hollis Fiala?

“They’re um...they’re a Candidate...leader of the Wild Circle? A Faerie.” Like the stuff in Faerie Tales though that had no been soured; if the heir thought she’d gone and shot them, and it could be proven then there was nothing she could do to convince them otherwise. 

Did you see the shot/what happened that night from your perspective?

Yes, no? It all happened so fast and suddenly that gun was in her hand and she couldn’t breathe and it was making her sick in her stomach so she tossed it away as far as she could. “I don’t— I can’t tell you, I’m sorry,” she says, eyes on her hands as they sat folded on her lap. “I’m sorry, I’m so sorry, but if I tell you then— I can’t. Just— just ask me the next question please, so we can be done.”

When did you get the invitation for the party/know you were going to work it?

“I decided when I got it...few months ago. Needed to find a dress, matching gloves, shoes...” This was notably the most normal part of the conversation, one moment where she and her crush were talking about the fun New Years gala she went to, but as she leans back, bringing her knees to her chest and her shin brushes against the velvet fabric of the loveseat, she nearly loses it. “That’s it.”

Did you go with someone?

As soon as the question leaves his lips she’s shaking her head frantically. No, she hadn’t gone with anyone and she was so thankful to Artemis for that; had she and Sebastian done so, he might’ve been incriminated in this and that was the last thing she wanted. “No. My family was there, but they weren’t with me like— like as accompaniment or anything, I swear, they didn’t know or do anything. They’re innocent, I’m—” she can’t even finish the sentence. A million things were holding her back in that moment. 

Do you own a gun/have you ever owned a gun?

“I— no, not really, like I don’t like guns or anything like that and Karlha’s always telling me to be safe around silver and hunters and I just, I don’t know what you want me to say right now, I’m here because I’m accused of shooting someone so what difference does it make?” Her voice is raising in volume, uncontrollable as the tears spill further; she’s tired and she wants to go home but it feels like she’s going to die here. Like her spirit will detach itself from her body and abandon her so that she’s left alone, without even the warmth of her soul and so far from having the warmth her pelt provides. 

[midnightunderground-npcs]

Interview: Hollis Fiala

Dossier:

Name: Hollis Fiala

Age: 104

Species: Fae ( Seelie )— Naiad

Circle: Wild

Known Relationships: Connor Talbot II ( Ex-Something? ), Esmeray Talbot ( Childhood Rivals ), Jose Alvez Cruz ( Thrall ), Cerese Fiala ( Mother ), Karlha Whitlock, Thaddeus James, and Damian Harker ( Fellow Circle Leaders )

Interview:

As they sit across from one another, Esmeray presents an older audio recorder, the tape inside of the cassette shimmering with some form of magic and the peri presses play, “I hope this works,” she says, voice soft, “the ribbons inside, I’ve replaced with materials from our home, and I’ve enchanted it past that so that we can communicate easier, no need to ruminate on every word, just tell me as it comes to you, okay? When I play it back they should hear us as we are— better than the usual, right? Harder to misunderstand us that way.”

What's your name?

The naiad can’t keep from rolling their eyes; consequence of a life surrounded by people who knew their name before Hollis ever thought to learn theirs. “Hollis Fiala, Heir of the High Fae Court holding dominion over Seelie territory and all of its inhabitants.” Head held high, shoulders set, and confidence in their tone as they string together those pointed words.

How do you know Tabitha Spencer?

“I don't know her personally— she's a relative of Damian Harker. Sister of his nephew or something or another, one of Karlha’s. Past that, I’m not too sure, I don’t necessarily keep record of every individual of every circle”

How do you know Jose Alves Cruz?

“Jose is the mayor and besides that, he’s my Thrall,” they say, nonchalantly. Typically Faeries didn’t enjoy the idea of a Thrall— it felt too much like a fractured version of their bindings and such a thing left a sour taste on the tongue. If not that, all a Faerie needed was a name and they could command an individual to do just as much as one could command a Thrall but then, the former was frowned upon on this side of the veil and the latter was the easier process. Jose had been more than willing. “The politics we hail from are entirely different but there’s an understanding there, at least.”

How do you know Hollis Fiala?

Esmeray could’ve asked this, but she wasn’t even going to bother; she did not want to hear Hollis run their mouth about this one. 

Did you see the shot/what happened that night from your perspective?

“How would I really be looking?” Mother Below, these were stupid questions. “You’d think I wouldn't have been hurt if my eyes were on the smoking gun. From my perspective, I had finished giving my speech, and Karlha was giving hers...when a shot rang out, then another and all I could feel was a burning sensation ripping through my shoulder. Not exactly how I intended to greet the New Year— such a silly little celebration.”

When did you get the invitation for the party/know you were going to work it?

“It's a recurring event, of course I'd been planning to attend— I knew I’d be there as far back as the previous year, even.” Naiads weren’t so spontaneous and they were no different; their mother herself had taught the heir that patience was paramount. As the humans lamented, Rome wasn’t built in a day, but, it could very obviously fall in one. “Besides that, I’m a Circle Leader, there’s networking to be done and speeches to give, you don’t just decide the night of that you’re going to attend this party.”

Did you go with someone?

They could have certainly gone with someone; their mother was very much suggesting that they begin narrowing their marriage prospects but that was an issue for another day. Hollis had their own on someone else anyhow, and they look to said wolf as they begin answering the question, “unfortunately not, the wolf I'm coveting was otherwise occupied.”

Do you own a gun/have you ever owned a gun?

It’s a question that has Hollis sitting straighter in their seat, leaning forward, their tone nothing short of indignant, “and what would a Faerie ever need a gun for? No. I've never owned one, and I don't have much respect for those that do. What else comes from a gun, from a silver bullet? You know best it’s one of a countless number of weapons meant to harm us. Kill us. So, no, I, Hollis Fiala, have never owned a gun.” A minute passes as they wait for any other questions, “are we done now?”

[midnightunderground-npcs]

clemxjohnson​:

~

It had been a few days since Clementine had been home by herself, a constant stream of music and podcasts playing in the background nearly all the time in an effort to fill the hollow, lonely void the house seemed to carry in it with no Jo present. Clem had taken to many cleaning tasks to try and siphon away the ever growing pit in her chest every passing moment she rounded the corner to another empty room, ending the night on the couch with crook of her shoulder empty where Jo would have once curled up to talk about their days. 

Clem knows she could go back to Connor’s house. He’d welcome her with open arms and a place to sleep with no questions. But, she didn’t want to. As much as she loved Connor and all her friends, she fell into old habits around them. She was the very martyr Jo accused her of being around all of them, unable to separate herself from the person she saw looking back at her in the mirror. By falling into that safety net, she was only digging herself deeper into the grave she had created as a teenage beauty queen with a people pleaser complex. 

Instead, she’d throw herself into reinventing her self perception, starting with her new home. Which included cleaning out clothes she’d never wear and artwork that made her skin crawl. 

Light in the Attic had always been in Clementine’s radar. It wasn’t a shop she frequented, but she knew of it and heard the name passed amongst the Underground. It made the most sense to her to bring her things there. Lugging the awkwardly packed box through the front door, Clementine catches the sound of a voice across the way, and offers a smile over the stack in her arms. 

“I’m actually hoping to get rid of some stuff today. Well, I mean, ideally I’ll be getting rid of some stuff. I’ve come into a bit of an inheritance, and I just… do not need all of this stuff.” She sets the box down, placing a steadying hand on top of the pile. “I’d heard of your shop, and was hoping that some stuff would interest you.”

◇ ◆ ◇

Beau tilted his head as he looked a little harder at her. Lots of people came through here, Unaware and more, so he did his best to access the situation before he said anything that might sound inherently suspicious. But the way she carried herself he knew she was something a bit bigger than either him or Bonnie were. Well not Bonnie, no. No one was bigger than Bonnibel.

No bite marks on her body so she was likely born or really good with makeup. The box was overflowing with heavy things so werewolf wouldn’t be too bad a call she just...well she didn’t quite look like a wolf. They weren’t so delicate in demeanor.

So he does what he does best and he smiles, soft and kind, gentle and honest. He picks the first thing off the stack and whistles. “What estate did you raid to get finds like this? I’m not half as good at dating as my sister is but they’re old enough to mean something. And you went and brought them here. I appreciate it.”

There’s something familiar in her eyes that he can’t quiet place the way he wants to. He looks a little harder at the face shapes as they start to morph into the late Orator. Ah, Moira Devlin. The Daughter of the Devil. His interest is immediately peaked though more so for the valuable art in front of him than the pile of old clothes and antiques.

“Yeah, I mean, we buy all kinds of stuff. The known and the lesser known, if you catch my drift. I think you do, at least. Either that or I’m looking like an idiot in front of a pretty girl again.”

[midnightunderground-npcs]

Interview: Thaddeus James

Dossier:

Name: Thaddeus James

Age: 48

Species: Human— Oracle

Circle: Power

Known Relationships: Karlha Whitlock ( Wife ), Damian Harker & Hollis Fiala ( Fellow Circle Leaders ), Sebastian Harker & Tabitha Spencer ( Pseudo-Family Friends ), Chloe Li ( Notable Circle Member )

Interview:

What's your name?

The Oracle smiles that same unassuming smile he’d mastered over the years, with its softened edges, always reaching his eyes, “Thaddeus James, at your service.” 

How do you know Tabitha Spencer?

Ah, the wolf of the hour, unfortunate as that was— but if his wife thought her innocent then so would he. “Tabitha, she’s Sebastian’s sister. A good kid like her brother and from all I’ve seen she’s been very grateful to Karlha since she’d been made part of the pack. I don’t even think I’ve ever seen her hold a gun, and I don’t see a reason as to why she would.”

How do you know Jose Alves Cruz?

He nods softly, sifting through his thoughts for all he knows of the man, “Mr. Alves Cruz is a notable member of our society, member of the Mortalis serving as Mayor. I assume that he does a great deal in assisting Mr. Harker in keeping the lines between the Aware and Unaware from blurring. His wife passed away recently, though I don’t recall their being a funeral. Then again, it could have been a private event between he and his daughter. Besides that, I believe I saw him speaking to Karlha and Mr. Harker at some point in the night.”

How do you know Hollis Fiala?

“Of course. Mx. Fiala is a Circle Leader like myself— as perplexing, some would say, but there’s value in keeping your cards close to your chest. I can’t blame them for their reticence lest I start calling myself a hypocrite.” A shame though that they had been wounded. “I don’t know much more, unfortunately, unless you wish to hear their political inclinations?”

Did you see the shot/what happened that night from your perspective?

It’s a question that makes his chest feel tight, though they’d avoided a tragedy; if only to find themselves sitting in the echos of another. That one, he could live with though. Thaddeus James should have been ashamed of the relief that filled him when he’d found no blood on his wife’s dress, relief that someone else had caught a bullet, but he doesn’t. “I was standing beside Karlha during her speech. After she was done we were expecting fireworks, and the rest, but towards the end of it, we heard a gunshot. She fell against me, and I fell to my knees behind the podium for cover, looking to see if there was any blood on her but there wasn’t. A second shot rang out after, but I was preoccupied.”

When did you get the invitation for the party/know you were going to work it?

“Well, I suppose you could say I was the first to be invited.” Thaddeus says, voice trailing off as he remembers the genesis of such a celebration. Another year with his then girlfriend, he’d taken Karlha by the hand and asked to read her future, only to knit his brows in confusion as he lowered himself onto one knee, ‘I’m looking for something for this coming year but all I see is my own wishful thinking, that the rest of my future and the rest of ours are entwined. For as long as we live and as long as you allow me to remain by your side. Will you marry me,’ and then she proceeded to make him the happiest man on this Earth; happier than she’d made him since. “I throw the same event every year; we try to foster mingling across circles, a space to speak with your circle leaders. Besides that, I choose a special someone whose future I’ll read come the New Year. I would offer to read yours Miss Lucas if I thought you were inclined to humor me.”

Did you go with someone?

His right hand gravitates towards the other, thumb and pointer rotating the golden ring around his fourth finger. If he were to remove the ring and hold it to the light, the wizard sitting before him would see the moonstone decorating the inside of the ring— a symbol of the only love he’s ever known in this world. “Of course. Karlha and I tend to host these events together. She has quite the eye for detail,” even able to see all the good in him he had once struggled to see in himself. But he’d been a boy then, struggling to live.

Do you own a gun/have you ever owned a gun?

“A gun or two have passed through my hands in this life; it’s something near unavoidable for most of anyone in this world, Miss Lucas. Be it for protection or an attempt to read the remnants of another’s actions— though either one of those is never so simple, never very black and white.” Which was easier said about those moments detached from him, from those he loved; if his wife had been harmed that night, there would have only been the goodness in this world siphoned from her like the blood in her body, and all the waste left behind. All of him left behind. “I have no need for such weapons though, and have no desire to keep such a thing in my home.”

[midnightunderground-npcs]

Interview: Karlha Whitlock

Dossier:

Name: Karlha Whitlock

Age: 40

Species: Werewolf

Circle: Night

Known Relationships: Tabitha Spencer (Pack Leader), Thaddeus James (Wife), Thaddeus James, Hollis Fiala, and Damian Harker (Circle Leaders), Catherine and Connor Talbot Senior (Feuding Wolf Territories)

Interview:

What's your name?

“Karlha Whitlock,” she answers simply. The sooner this can be dealt with, the sooner her poor little Tabitha can be freed, the better. Though who has a hand in this that’s framing that girl is anyone’s guess. She’s got one though.

How do you know Tabitha Spencer?

“I’m her pack leader. She’s one of my own and I trust her as my own. She wouldn’t assault another circle leader like that, especially at a party she knew I was partially hosting. Tibby is a good kid who minds her own business. Or minds her brother’s business.”

How do you know Jose Alves Cruz?

Karlha has to stop herself from rolling her eyes. “Mayor Cruz? You have to know him when you work in the Underground. Him and Damian work close to make sure Unaware eyes stay where they belong. I’ve known him as long as I’ve been Circle leader, since Moira became Orator. Connor, you know this, don’t be stupid.”

How do you know Hollis Fiala?

“We are circle leaders and Orator candidates at the moment. I know Hollis as well as most people know Hollis which is not at all because they prefer it that way. They’ve always kept everything close to their chest, like they’re waiting to play the perfect poker hand because they’ve been cheating the entire time. None of us trust them, because you shouldn’t trust a fae. Some advice you could due to learn.”

Did you see the shot happened/What happened that night from your perspective?

Truthfully, Connor hasn’t seen Karlha this upset since as long as she’s been with Thaddeus. Whatever storm he eased in calming was not to be tamed at this moment. And could he blame her? She’d been told she was going to die only to have one of her wolves put on trial. “I was on stage, a gunshot happened, I thought I’d been shot. I hadn’t. But now they’re saying Tabitha shot Hollis and I can’t believe that. I won’t believe that. She wouldn’t do something like that, that could jeopardize our pack’s success in the election. She’s not an idiot and only an idiot or someone with an ego would play so fast and lose. And once this all comes out in the woodwork, I’ll kill them myself from trying to frame her.

When did you get the invitation for the party/know you were going to work it?

“Thaddeus and I have this party every year as part of our Anniversary celebration. Connor, I know you’re doing your fucking job here, but these are questions everyone knows the answer too and you’re wasting your fucking time.” Karlha snarls and then, after a moment, pauses, taking a deep breath in. “I’m sorry. I lost control of my temper there. This isn’t your fault. And it’s not Tabitha’s fault either. It’s the idiot’s who ruined my dinner’s.��

Did you go with someone?

“My husband, Connor, the person’s who’s party it was.”

Do you own a gun/have you ever owned a gun?

Karlha nods gently. “Yes. I owned a gun once, a long time ago. I didn’t really think much of it. I was a wolf so I didn’t need it but it felt safer sometimes. I lived in a very rough part of town and I thought if I had a gun I could make it look like self defense more than if an intruder had their throat ripped out. I got rid of it a decade ago now. I certainly never had one that could shoot silver bullets, or even iron. Iron bullets aren’t even typically maid unless it’s by a skilled hunter. They’re hard to get, harder to get in a place that isn’t like the Black Market.”

[midnightunderground-npcs]

Interview: Connor Talbot I

Dossier:

Name: Connor Henry Talbot I

Age: 61

Species: Werewolf

Circle: Night

Known Relationships: Catherine Talbot ( Wife ), Connor Talbot II & Clifford Talbot ( Sons ), Lilith Gaumond ( Mother ), Esmeray Talbot ( Daughter-in-Law ), Cameron Kiskadden ( Former Brother-in-Law ), Carmen Blakely ( ...aunt? )

Interview:

What's your name?

Setting his coffee down, Connor Sr. throws his son a cursory glance, desk full of paperwork and face unimpressed. “Same as yours, Connor Henry Talbot.”

How do you know Tabitha Spencer?

“No, not really. I know she’s a wolf, but she’s not part of this pack.” Belonged to Karlha’s if he remembered correctly, and beyond that, the girl wasn’t any of his concern. An Alpha meddled in another pack’s business for one of two reasons, and Connor Sr. wasn’t trying to poach the girl and he wasn’t looking to merge his pack. Whitlock and the rest of them weren’t much of his business if they were keeping themselves in line. “Couldn’t tell you any more than that.”

How do you know Jose Alves Cruz?

Artemis, these questions felt dumb as all else, but that’s how these things went anyhow. Simple was enough to get things in order; he’d have to ask his son if he was the man at the forefront of this investigation. A little show of leadership to see if he was anymore ready for the pack than he had been these previous years. “The mayor. Marcia’s husband, if memory serves. Never been more than acquaintances with the man though. He doesn’t have anything I’d ever want or need for the pack.”

How do you know Hollis Fiala?

“The same way everyone knows them, Connor, they’re a Circle Leader. Fae.” Like that wife of his. An amalgamation of everything there was to dislike about those creatures, made even worse by the fact that they were as outwardly Fae as they came. Everything his son’s wife could be if her whims ever dictated as much. “They’ve run in the same circles as us though, do their homework about werewolves. Can’t ever tell if it’s part of their crusade as leader of the people or if they just wanna learn how to put a leash on a dog. Faeries and werewolves though— oil and water.” Even if his son insisted they were anything else.

Did you see the shot/what happened that night from your perspective?

“I didn’t see the shooter or anything like that. After the first one, I was preoccupied with one of ours and everything after that was background noise.” An Alpha took care of his own before anyone else’s; he and Cathy had a responsibility to all these people they allowed inside of their faction, their extended family of sorts and so long as Rosemary was one of theirs, so long as she followed the rules laid out for her and the rest of them, she had their protection. But if she’d had anything to do with this scheme, whatever that was, there was no protecting Rosie from them. “She did real damage. Could’ve been worse though.”

When did you get the invitation for the party/know you were going to work it?

Pulling open a drawer to the right side of the table, Connor Sr. sifts through some keepsakes, an old birthday card from his sons, a picture of he and Kenny as kids, Connor’s wedding invitation, and finally he finds Thad’s anniversary card, “same as everyone else, I’m assuming. Your mother was the one to pull it from the mailbox,” he says, setting it down between he and his son. “You start going to these things when you make Alpha and it never stops, making connections, securing them. Cathy makes it bearable at least.”

Did you go with someone?

Connor Sr. leans back in his chair then, staring at the framed wedding picture sitting on his desk, “your mother, of course. You know damn-well that’s the only someone I’d ever take anywhere in this world.” Unlike his own father, Connor Sr. kept his promises; and Catherine made that easy. All these years they’d been together and he was unable to lover her any less. “Don’t go asking stupid questions like that.”

Do you own a gun/have you ever owned a gun?

“What wolf ever needs a gun?” Made no sense to keep those things when you had Artemis’ blessing— especially not a Talbot wolf, especially not with the Ascension. “I’ve never owned a gun in my life, and I’m not about to start now...you got anymore questions for me or can I get back to work? I’m actually gonna need you to pick up a shift tonight, your brother’s not feeling too well standing for so long. Think you can lend a hand?”

[midnightunderground-npcs]

Interview: Carmen Blakely

Dossier:

Name: Carmen Blakely

Age: 40 (78)

Species: Tainted

Circle: Wild

Known Relationships: Lilith Gaumond (Best Friend), Esmeray Talbot (Subordinate), Rina Mochizuki (frequent flyer at the Kafe), Connor Talbot Senior (“aunt”), Connor Talbot II (menace and “great aunt”)

Interview:

What's your name?

“Oh geez, I hate this shit,” Carmen sighs, rolling her eyes. She’s already well aware she’s going to end up on the prosecuting end of this whole dumbass affair despite having been a literal witness to the event. But she went to law school so she’ll try and remain as impartial as she can. “Carmen Blakely, Debt Collector Manager.”

How do you know Tabitha Spencer?

She tries to run through the list of names that sound familiar in her head, linking debts to names and faces in desperate attempt to have something make sense. Then it clicks and she nods. “Right, Tabitha. Sorry, hard to deal with having to know off the top of your dome literally every fucking face in the Underground. The woes of being a Debt Collector. You get it. But this is upper management stuff and were as you can follow a string, I end up with brain soup. What did you ask again? Oh right, Tibby. I’d collected a debt once upon a dream but that’s it. We’re not exactly running in the same crowd.”

How do you know Jose Alves Cruz?

“Yeah, yeah, our Mayoral buddy Mr. Cruz. He’s certainly a...man. Who exists. I don’t know much here and not what you want me to say either. I guess he’s a weirdo. All the humans who hang out around the Midnight Underground are weirdos and trust me on that, I used to be one once upon a time, thinking I could fuck wizards into loving me.” She shifts her win glass curiously and watches the bubbles that form with a bit of a far off look. Suddenly she snaps back to it. “I know Jose like I know everyone. If they owe, I know. And he owed, honey.”

How do you know Hollis Fiala?

“Head of my circle, Heir to the High Court, blah blah blah. For what it’s worth, they always respected me, plenty. I think it’s by virtue of being the Debt Collector. I don’t see their promise threads but I’ve got my own strings to puppet. I don’t fuck around with them and they don’t fuck around with me. It’s a beautiful symbiotic relationship.”

Did you see the shot happened/What happened that night from your perspective?

Carmen frowns and shifts, for the first time during the interview, allowing a certain type of seriousness to enter her voice. “I saw the shot, yeah. When you see things like that, you know something’s gone wrong. I looked to make sure Lili was safe and then I saw Cameron sprinting over to where Tabitha and Jose were. The guy was making a fuss over his arm but, I don’t know, he seemed too prepared. Maybe it was adrenaline that got him through it but the way he was holding on, it felt like maybe he was a little prepared for it. But that could just be thrall business. They have to be prepared for everything and anything. Shoutout to the girlies willing to bear that burden. Couldn’t be me.”

When did you get the invitation for the party/know you were going to work it?

“Oh I always get invited. You think you’re not going to invite me to a party and live to tell about it? I like parties. I like wine at parties. I like dumb extravagance at every corner. It makes me feel alive again. Plus who doesn’t love getting dressed up and looking fancy as hell. Besides, Thaddy does it every year. I was expecting the invite before it even showed up. Most people were.”

Did you go with someone?

She laughs at that. “Did I go with someone? Well my usual date for the evening, Miss Lilith Gaumond, stood me up to hang with an Oracle. Tragic, right? But no, I don’t go to these things with anyone. I don’t have a single person I’d like to hang off my arm. Being a debt collector, The Debt Collector, makes it hard to date and what Unaware is gonna fuck the weird tired girl in the corner at bars who’s got a piss poor attitude and a sailors mouth? But that’s not what you asked. No, I didn’t go with anyone. Not my thing.”

Do you own a gun/have you ever owned a gun?

“Nope,” the ‘p’ pops from Carmens mouth and then she pauses, snapping her fingers. “You know what, I think I did, back in the 60s, when I was still trying to get married to Levi. It made me feel safer, but when you literally can’t die what’s the fucking point, you know? Also I’m from Reno, Esme, you ever been there? Reno. Who doesn’t own a gun? I don’t know though.”

[midnightunderground-npcs]

Beauregard Abbott has never had it easy. Neither him or his twin sister Bonnibel have. Born in Pahrump to parents that didn’t want them, a father who ended up in prison, a mother who was so high or drunk she never paid attention to them. He was always smaller than most of the other kids in school and by virtue of that, by virtue of being easy pickings, he was the one being pushed down onto the ground with ripped up knees and bloody noses. Bonnie had always done her best to take care of him and she got good at chasing away the monsters and men who put her hands on her brother.

But he got bigger and he got more handsome and soon those dangerous hands from classmates shifted into curious giggles. And now he uses that to his advantage more than anything else. After escaping their small town, and exchanging it for a better one, they’ve found success out in Boulder City. Antique and thrift shops are incredibly popular and they’ve found a curious little collection of things. Beau’s always liked collecting and there are so many curious things.

The bell over the door of Light in the Attic Thrifts rings that pretty tune and he turns towards the sound. A young looking girl comes in but when your eyes are wide open, it’s easier to tell when someone is a little bit more than human.

“Hey welcome in,” Beau says with a charming grins, setting the box he’s sorting through on the counter. People bring in lots of things and not all of them are worth much. He’s more than willing to sort out the donations when he knows what people need. Growing up asking for things makes it an easier job, truthfully. “Did you need help with anything today? Or looking for something specific?”

They’ve got their more expensive finds, the antiques, at the front register near where him and Bonnie typically sit. She doesn’t like the socialization aspect of their business half as much as he does, but he loves her for it all the time. His sister has saved his life more than once. It doesn’t hurt him to save her from the agonizing experience of customer service. She’s probably dealing with their stock in the basement anyhow.

“We’ve got all sorts of odds and ends,” he laughs.

@clemxjohnson​

[midnightunderground-npcs]

Interview: Yasaminia Ahmadi

Dossier:

Name: Yasaminia Ahmadi

Age: 29

Species: Human - Banshee

Circle: Power

Known Relationships: Rina Mochizuki (best friend, employer), Connor Talbot II (friend), Esmeray Talbot (friend), Ludovicus Hummel (Fiancé)

Interview:

What's your name?

Sam clears her throat into the tape recorder, trying to keep herself still. “Uh, Yasaminia Ahmadi. That’s me. That’s my name.”

How do you know Tabitha Spencer?

“I don’t, I mean, not really. I hadn’t known her before tonight. Heard of her, yeah, because, like, we’ve all at least heard of each other here. It’s a small world when you’re dealing with things that go bump in the night, you know? But as far as I knew she was the sworn guys sister and she was a wolf and she wasn’t in Connor’s pack. Past that, I’m sorry, I can’t say much. She seemed sweet though,” she adds at the end.

How do you know Jose Alves Cruz?

Sam chews on her bottom lip. “You mean, the mayor? I don’t know he was the mayor. He was a thrall. Banshee don’t typically fuck around with thrall because why would you want to thrall to someone who needs a Halls throat cooler every five minutes. He seemed like a politician. An asshole, I guess.”

How do you know Hollis Fiala?

“Other than the fact they suck?” She covers her mouth and curses, “I shouldn’t have said that on recording about a candidate. Oh fuck. Uh, take that off the record. It’s just they’re Fae High Court air. My boyfriend is an Unseelie. I don’t like them, so I don’t fuck around much with them. I try really hard to keep to myself for the most part here. I was only at that party because if I didn’t show up Thaddeus would have come and scold me or something.”

Did you see the shot happened/What happened that night from your perspective?

“I’m a banshee,” Sam explains. This part she’s more serious for because it’s the only thing she thinks will actually be of any use. “I scream when someone around me is about to die and I didn’t scream once that evening. I don’t think whoever shot that gun wanted Hollis to die, okay? Or I would have been screaming like a...well like a banshee.”

When did you get the invitation for the party/know you were going to work it?

“The same time everyone else, I think. I mean, I’m Power Circle, so it’s not like I wasn’t expecting an invite. He invites all of us as a courtesy. I normally sneak in for a few minutes before I leave, handshaking, known presence, that sort of thing. But Rina wanted to come this year so I figured it could be like a girls night out. We’d kiss when the ball dropped just so Ludo would get grumpy. It wasn’t supposed to be like this. At all.”

Did you go with someone?

Sam nods. “Yeah my friend Rina. She’s the vampire who owns the Kafe. And my boss, I guess, because for some reason she lets me keep working there even after I almost blow it up.”

Do you own a gun/have you ever owned a gun?

“Oh fuck no,” She says, shaking her head frantically. “If I carried around a gun I’d be screaming bloody murder all the time. Those things are so dangerous and I’d be more dangerous.”