Shades of Gray

[Karmine de Arcadia]

"Not at all, I am suggesting you keep your eyes and ears open and insure that the little ones don't get trampled when this goes down, if it does."

Karmine shrugged. "At this point, I think whatever is happening now is more damage control then prevention. If you say this vampire is as old as she is, she wouldn't make a move foolishly. That also means that she has a lot of sway with the coven. If she is going to act, it's safe to say she probably has a good deal of muscle in her corner. But then here comes the $25,000 question."

Karmine took another swallow from his flask and finished. "What do they have here that she is so scared of she needs your help to get past it? Someone like her has probably be planning this for a long time, the coffin cheaters are good at planning and being tricky like that. They'd rather wait for an enemy to die then take care of it on their own. So she is ready to act, she's been planning it a while, and something is in her way. Either something she didn't plan on, or something she can't get past with all that she has at her disposal. And if you figure out what that thing is..."

He grinned.

"Well then you will know what she is after. Like I said, your at the middle of it, but it doesn't mean you have to get involved quite yet. So who you thinking to send to her? And I swear if you say Rae I might have to hurt you."

[ken]

"It does sound like Adeliade's good and nervous, and I can't remember ever seeing her nervous about anything," admitted Kennedy, frowning. Part of him was beginning to wish he'd talked to someone besides Karmine about this . The more they reasoned, the more convinced Kennedy was getting that something serious could be behind all this.

Which wasn't a good thing.

"If Adelaide has been planning this for a while, I'm probably not the only one she's sniffing out," added Kennedy. "She recruited other people in the old days, when she was just a rebel. Now that her plan's coming up, I can't see her not doing the same. Which means that we could be dealing with more then just one ancient vampiress."

Wonderful news, that. It's not just a powerful being with centuries of life that you needed to worry about. she's probably got allies.

"Really, I've only got a few people I could send," admitted Kennedy. "Morgan's scared stiff of Adelaide, though she'd do it if I asked. Besides, her memory's been getting better lately..."

Though what big brother wanted to send his sister into a possible trap?

"I did think about Rae. But we both know how that's going to end."

In a fight or a f**k.

"Guess I'm low on options... might have to see if I can pull favors with someone, I suppose..."

[Karmine de Arcadia]

"Rebel phase? I'm willing to bet she went through that centuries ago Ken. Like I said, coffin cheaters are very good at manipulating people. She's seen tens of thousands of people go from kids, to teenagers, to adults and then grow old and die. I'm gonna say that she got pretty good at an act for dealing with teenagers. After all, the mentality doesn't change, just the medium. "

At Kennedy's remark on who to send Karmine just smiled with a sigh.

"Let me see, you need someone who is strong, wise, can talk to people, and has a better idea on how ancient people function and won't get themselves killed if things turn sour. And most important, you need someone with very few connections or family members to worry about, either that or someone too reckless to care."

He glanced at Kennedy. "So, where do you want the meeting place to be then?"

[ken]

They were on the same page now, which was about what Kennedy expected. No one would ever call the two of them slow, not when it came to things like this. Looks like Kennedy really would be organizing something again. You'd think the administration would learn by now.

"Probably should be somewhere we have the advantage," he offered. "Adelaide's not going to mind where it is. No matter what, she's going to have the advantage. She always does, that's how she operates."

Kennedy frowned, shifting his feet.

"My first want would be the Cave, but that's almost too obvious. I mean, a bar owned by my best friend," Kennedy shrugged, "makes sense, I guess. I've heard about a new bar and grill or something opening up in Masonville. Wouldn't be a bad idea to go there. I'd stay away from the school though."

Kennedy fidgeting with the letter, finally just folding it and shoving it into the pocket. "You know, I almost hope this is a trap. Be a lot simpler."

[Karmine de Arcadia]

"Oh she ain't the only one with favors she can call in, I can think of a few people I can have on deck in case thing turn sour. I'm rash, but not stupid." He said with another drink.

"That Weiss place right? Not a bad place for a meeting, plus I always did have a thing for older ladies." Karmine said with a smile. "Oh man it's gonna be a rough time of it, but hey, at least it'll be fun."

Karmine turned towards Kennedy a new thought entering his mind. "Oh, before I forget, I heard something interesting through the schools grapevine. Apparently little Angie had a series of nasty mood swings in the middle of the lunch room, even up to bickering with a student. That seems rather out of character for her. I'm against making assumptions, but I've seen this many a time, and I only have one thing to say to you about it."

He walked towards Kennedy all business, all seriousness. "Congrats." He said with a smile placing a hand on his shoulder. "That might be another reason you should stay out of this as long as possible."

[ken]

If Karmine had been expecting the news to shake Kennedy, he'd be disappointed. After all, Kennedy had been there for the good part, and had also been present for Angela's sudden mood swing. He wasn't sure whether it was good or bad that someone else had come to the same conclusion he had.

"I doubt Adelaide will doing anything to you," managed Kennedy. suddenly talking had become more difficult, for some reason. "She doesn't like to mess with people she thinks could be, well, useful."

Kennedy shrugged. The undercurrent should be evident there. Adelaide would probably try to use and manipulate Karmine. Kennedy was sure the older Faerie could handle it, but he still wasn't going to send someone in unwarned.

He nodded, getting ready to leave. "Thanks for the congrats. I... well, I guessed as much myself. Nothing's certain yet."

A small blessing.

Sighing, Kennedy shook his head. A few chuckles escaped. "I guess I really should look into staying on the sidelines more. Maybe look into training a replacement or something..."

[Karmine de Arcadia]

"You? Train a replacement? There's no need. You want to train someone to be a teenage superhero to stand up for the kids in this school? Did anyone teach it to you? No, because it can't be taught. You move on with your life Kennedy, and you leave a void here. Someone will step in to fill it, like you stepped in to fill it when people needed it. You didn't ask to be the kind of focal point you are, you just stepped up because someone needed to organize. There are more people like that, and I think you'll find that someone in this building will step up when nobody else is here to rally them. I think it's time for you to stop being one of the students and be one of the adults here. Maybe you should talk to the Agents eh?" Karmine said with a grin.

"Hmmm, now hold on a second." Karmine said musing. "I think I should inform my 'backup.'" He walked to the open window and leaned out. For a moment he seemed to be arguing with himself, silently. Then as if speaking, but no words came out. With a swirl of the air, Kennedy could see a slightly visible streak of...fog? It flew into the sky and arched out of view.

"There we go, that's all done and over with. So, I'll assume you know how to contact this vampiress to set up the meeting. I don't suppose she left a return address eh?"

[ken]

"I was a snot nosed little rebel, and it's only been a year," Kennedy pointed out, grinning. he still couldn't believe the difference between himself now and himself then. Nor could his family; they were all convinced that this was an act, something he put on to fool them all later.

"You faeries are weird," teased Kennedy. He headed for the exit of the research center, holding up the letter so Karmine could see it.

"Adelaide's the type who just knows these things," he informed Karmine. "I still remember the old ways of contacting her though. She'll know to meet somebody at the right time and place."

Kennedy nodded, "So I'll try to set things up and pass the word along to you. Should be interesting."

When Kennedy had nearly reached the door, he paused, looking over at Karmine. "Oh, and she's probably not going to be thrilled that I didn't go myself; though you'll probably never tell. Good luck, Karmine."

He hesitated a moment to see if Karmine needed to say anything else, then he would leave. Enough had been said here, and Kennedy really didn't need more to think about.