Of Flames Old and New
18th of November 2006 A.D.
You always knew you were going to be a target and it's not like you've been twiddling your thumbs all this time, you have been working on getting allies, building bridges. Maybe the
one who stands before you now does not think much of the Jade Dogs building new lives for themselves unnoticed in the dark places of the city, of the Ordo Lebetis pooling their talents against common threats, of Olivia and her dreams of a more representative ordering of magicians or Isabela who will if you have something to say about it never have to consume the life of another person despite the demon she bears.
Oh yes, I know change is coming, your answering look says to the immortal standing before you his suit now a bit more rumpled and stained with engine grease from all the tests you have been running.
I aim to make some of that change myself.
He tips his head a little to the side, a touch of corvid nature from long association showing through perhaps then 'Donar' nods. "You know they say the first king was a lucky pirate. Scholars these days say it like giddy children, as though they had discovered something new about the world in seeing through the pretences of royal dignity and assumed divine patronage, but it is just the truth, the best way to carve out a place is by the sword and when you start cutting someone's going to scream. Chicago... Chicago's busy for a whole host of reasons some of which I can't talk about, some of which it's not the right time to talk about, but I will say this much there's as little room to grow in that city as a redwood in a rooftop garden. It might be time to start thinking about college. You're a bright one, brighter than this world has seen in a long time. I'm sure you can make it into Harvard."
"So Boston is less
congested?" you ask cautiously, trying to feel him out as you absently buff a dent off the side of the nearest van door
"Boston is not a stone's throw away from the seat of the White Court while also being the place where the War between the White Council and the Red Court started and where the man who started that war happens to live..."
"Harry didn't..." you start, but he raises a hand, professionally manicured you suspect, but still showing callouses of sword and axe.
"That was not an accusation, he started it early, if anything he did Arthur Langly and the rest of his bellyaching lot a favor, not that you will hear them admit it, but he did start it, hence the eyes of powers are upon that city."
You start to nod, stop, realize all this had been... not quite a distraction, but a way to position himself on your side in an issue to give his next words more weight.
"I traced... Katrina," he spits out the word as though it burns his lips. "Back to Boston, traced her connections. Johann of Cleaves is dead and with him the threat to turn all that youthful vim and fire into actual fire. That is what he did you see, turn the metaphorical into into the literal. It was a very unique form of warlock's madness that left him surprisingly sane, or at least coherent for someone who had dabbled in black magic since before Columbus set out to the New World."
"So we are talking what? Spontaneous human combustion of the students?" you ask horrified.
"And anyone who read their inflammatory leaflets and then of course once fear set in you would have people shake themselves to death with its chill, using the natural pathways of emotion to transmit the curse. There is only so much that could be plucked from old Johann's skull once it had been removed from his shoulders, but he was aiming for exposure, something too big to be covered up entirely. "
"Why... Why didn't dad hear anything about this? When
was this?"
"Two months ago almost to the day," comes the unflappable reply. "Far be it from me to say the plans of the One whom your father serves, but my guess is because it was being handled. The Knights are not called in to throw water over flames that are already being stomped out. Still I hope you understand now why Cambridge might need someone watching out for trouble. With the warkock removed there is a power vacuum in the area that you could take advantage of to set up, he had removed all other major players from the area and so far none have had a chance to set up. Monoc would be available to help deal with common foes and would offer favorable rates for those who are not common, in far greater strength than in Chicago given the local entanglements and certainly you might learn more than mortal scholarship." His single eye burns with the white of soulfire for an instant, the offer clear as it is manifest.
You catch more flies with honey... The old saw passes though your mind. You know mother would be ecstatic if you got into Harvard and it wold be nice to have some elbow room to yourself. None of what he said is untrue in letter or in spirit you are sure of it and you are just as sure of his motives, naturally align your interests and resources with Monoc's own to the point where you are a natural ally of the company and Donar Vadderung himself.
What do you reply?
[] Harvard sounds good
[] You are looking to stay closer to home
[] You are considering your options (may be taken as an invitation to sweeten the pot)
[] Write in
OOC: A reminder that Molly and company are not the only people making moves. If you had taken the option to ho look for Charity's family in Boston, which is opened by talking to her about it you might have ended up in the middle of that plot. 
