Manhattan - Priory House
The Priory House foyer denotes the building as being rather old, Victorian, and definitely having not changed with the times. Off-white, creamy wallpaper adorns the walls, above the walnut paneling that comes up to hip height from the floor. It provides a soft, inviting feel into the eighteenth century styled home. The flooring is dark walnut hardwood, adding to the old-fashioned feel. Several old wall sconces are still in place, but they've been converted from the original gas lighting to incandescent bulbs.
Adding to the atmosphere of the entrance is a small, delicate crystal chandelier.
Characters
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| Lilith Graves | Kevin Curtis |
Lilith has no idea why she agreed to do this. The argument started halfway down Fifth Avenue. It's across the park from her apartment, and the fact is that she'd rather be taking the night off to relax. A bath, a martini, a few minutes alone without her ghosts popping their heads through walls.
John had other plans. Which started with him keeping his head poked through the wall right below her shower head. Attempting to talk to her.
"You couldn't have gone out by yourself? You're a ghost. You can come and go as you please. It's not like I've stuffed you back into a body," she mutters quietly. A few odd looks are given in her direction, but the Necromancer doesn't care at this point.
"I don't know why I'm out here, in this heat."
JJ stops in front of an older styled house in the middle of Fifth Avenue, and disappears through the wall. Sighing, the necromancer gives chase.
"JJ, I have no idea why you're doing this. I'm tired. I want to go home and relax."
There's no answer, so she's forced to walk up the few steps and knock at the door.
~
Kevin has been going over files in the dining room/meeting room with Ashcroft and Blackwell, though the sorcerer is off site and taking advantage of modern technology and conference calling. Every i has been dotted, every t crossed and though Kevin hasn't been given an official dismissal, he can read between the lines. Blackwell wants to talk to Ashcroft privately, or arrange to do so and Kevin isn't going to stand in the way of private conversation between the two men who are effectively in charge of the Priory right now.
The knock comes as he's grabbing his jacket from the front coat rack and he turns curiously toward the door. They can't ever say that they're not expecting anyone and after a quick peek, Kevin blinks.
He opens up the door promptly, staring curiously at the woman on the other side. "Miss Graves. This is a surprise."
~
"Detective Curtis?"
Trying to look around the man, she furrows her brow. Lilith would ask him if he's seen an annoying ghost, but she can see JJ standing behind Kevin sticking his tongue out at her.
"I apologize if I'm disturbing you. I was, er… following… one of my friends." Who just happened to walk right through the door.
~
Kevin twists around, as he does every time, even though he knows he's unable to see a ghost. Attention swiveling back to Lilith he asks, "Your friend came here?"
Beat.
The detective glances around again, seeming curious about that. "Interesting choice of destination." Stepping back, he moves to the side, allowing the woman entry. Force of habit, he does not extend her an actual invitation. The Priory House may be public, but it's a habit he's gotten into since learning vampires are real.
~
"Astor," Lilith answers with a small shrug. It's not as though she had to follow him either. "He's being a bit of a childish pest at the moment."
Entering the building when Kevin moves to the side, she glares at JJ. "Alright. Enough of your pranks, JJ. I want to go home and…"
Her voice cuts off completely as JJ passes through Kevin and stands in front of her.
And what? Be on your own again?
Lilith exhales slowly and pinches the bridge of her nose. "No, JJ. But I would like to have a bath this evening without your head poking into the tub."
~
Kevin smirks, a bit glad that he can't hear the ghost. The one sided conversation is much more entertaining. "Should I leave you two alone? Or do you need a mediator?"
~
"You didn't feel that?" Lilith shakes her head at him and sighs. "No, I've a feeling that he knew you'd be here. He's been annoying since Mandy decided to take off for a few days."
I'm hardly annoying.
"You just walked through the man," she points out to JJ.
He did not feel it.
"John Jacob Astor, you are trying my patience. You really don't want me to shove you into a skull, do you?"
~
Kevin blinks at that and then shivers. It's a hindsight, creepy sort of weird shiver. "No, I didn't feel that. I'm glad I didn't feel that." He wonders if it's because he's not at all in tune, or if it's something about the numerous spells and wards that Priory House has on it. Clearly none of them are meant to repel ghosts.
"Just out of curiosity, maybe there's a reason he came here, and it's not just to be contrary?" Kevin offers. He hasn't a clue, but figures he'll throw that out to the ghost. "Was there something you wanted, Mr. Astor?"
~
"I'm fairly certain it was meant to be contrary," Lilith exclaims, exasperatedly.
It was not! I simply wanted you to see where the good detective worked. John Jacob Astor moves through the room and perches himself atop the chandelier.
"You work here?" If the necromancer looks a bit confused, she can't really be blamed for it. The place looks more like an old manor house. A home. Lifting her head, she glances up at the ghost and then back to Kevin.
"You work here. You believe I can actually see spirits. That I can actually talk to them. That they'll give you important information."
Beat.
"So, who are you really, Detective Curtis?"
~
"It's zoned for dual purposes," Kevin says quite matter of factly. Never mind that it isn't an answer to Lilith's question.
He swings his jacket around and slides his arms into it. "I'm a retired NYPD cop turned detective after I thought about too much stuff that just couldn't be figured out and solved." Kevin pats down his pockets, looking for his car keys. "I really am a detective who moonlights as a securities guy." Or maybe that's the other way around?
The detective glances where Lilith does, and wonders how much and what of Astor the security cameras are picking up. His gaze swings back to the necromancer. "I've seen plenty of weird stuff. Stuff that just can't be explained through normal channels. I know that the bump in the night stuff is real. Is that so hard to believe?"
~
It's answer enough for Lilith. She crosses her arms over her chest and stares at him for a moment. "It's summer. You really don't need a jacket," she points out.
The keys are in his left pocket, comes the voice from the chandelier.
"Try your left pocket," she says finally with a sigh. "It is a little difficult to swallow, actually. JJ obviously has a reason for bringing me here, and he's not willing to talk about it. I don't mean to keep you at work any longer than necessary."
~
Kevin frowns and looks down at his jacket. "I like my jacket and there is AC in my car."
His hand goes into his left pocket and he snaps up the keys. Tosses them into the air and catches them, and glances toward the chandelier. "Thank you, JJ."
Turning back toward Lilith, he gives her a considering look. "Why is it so hard to swallow? How big is the city? Several million people? Out of those how many have had something strange and unusual happen to them? It's not impossible to believe that there are people out there who believe in this sort of thing."
~
"I didn't say there was anything wrong with your jacket," Lilith says simply. "There isn't. But it's fucking hot outside and you're going to melt before you actually get to your car."
Tell him that he is most welcome.
"He says you're welcome." Lilith exhales a sigh. "Of course people believe," she says. "I'd not have a job on the television if they didn't."
Pausing, she smiles at him.
"My difficulty is that you believe it enough to actually look up and thank JJ, or to take witness testimony from Mandy Lockhart via me."
~
Kevin considers her again for a moment, then shoves his keys back in his jacket pocket. He begins to shrug out of his jacket. He doesn't have an appointment, and the nice thing about his job is that he gets to use his gut instinct regarding what he reveals and what he doesn't.
"Come with me, please," Kevin tells her. He looks up, "You too, JJ, though you probably would even without an invitation."
The cop turned detective doesn't go far, just to the sitting room. He tosses his jacket over the back of the arm chair, and motions toward the couches and arm chairs for Lilith. "Have a seat. Can I get you anything? Coffee? Tea? Water? Soda?"
~
Lilith watches him shove his keys back into his pocket, and almost wonders if she didn't go too far with her pushing.
Following him without question, she glances up at JJ to tell him to stay put. "Likely. As I said, I'm fairly certain he had a reason for dragging me here at this hour." It's not as though she found the place on her own. Which probably means that John Jacob Astor has been keeping an eye on the detective while she's been busy elsewhere.
Choosing to take the arm chair, she settles onto it easily enough. Legs are draw up onto it as well and tucked under her body.
"I don't suppose you've got anything stronger?"
~
Kevin laughs. "It's not that kind of conversation."
He walks to the wet bar, and takes quick stock. "Scotch? Bourbon? Wine?"
Beat.
"I may have some beer in the refrigerator in the kitchen."
~
"It may not be, but like I said. It's damned hot out." Lilith rolls her eyes as she watches JJ perch on one of the bookshelves and lean forward. "Really, JJ, if you want to be here you could at least sit on the couch."
Whatever you say, Miss Lancaster.
Another roll of her eyes is given and she sighs. "Beer would be fine."
~
"One beer, coming up."
Kevin ducks out of the sitting room and into the kitchen.
That's Lilith Graves, Curtis. Moving up in the world? Kayla's voice comes through the intercom in the kitchen.
"You getting anything?" Kevin ignores the subtle teasing in the younger woman's voice.
You mean like EM interference, odd heat readings on the video, cloudy areas that will probably hard to explain? Kayla pauses a beat. You think she's got a real ghost with her?
Kevin opens the refrigerator and grabs two bottles of Heineken. "What do you think?"
I think I'd like to bring some equipment down and get some real readings.
"Not yet. I'd like to talk to her before you descend and do a Ghost Busters."
This would be more like Ghost Hunters.
"Six of one, Martin," Kevin pops open both bottles and then twists around. Holds them up the camera that he knows is pointing directly at him and winks at Kayla before leaving the kitchen.
Returning to the sitting room, he hands one to Lilith. "One cold beer." He purchases on the edge of the couch, and though he's looking at Lilith, he asks, "JJ, what brought you here today?"
~
Once Kevin ducks out of the room, Lilith looks right at the ghost again. "I don't know what you're trying to prove, JJ. Why do you have me harassing that poor man? What did he ever do to you?"
Nothing.
"Well then??
I noticed that you got an invitation to a ball. I also heard your assistant saying that for the last two years you have skipped it because you did not want to go solo.
"Oh hell no. You did not bring me here to annoy Detective Curtis for that."
Lilith goes oddly silent, possibly fuming at her spectral friend. She's still silent when Kevin comes into the room. Taking the beer, she tilts the bottle upward and allows herself a small sip. For all that she might have money, she knows that there's nothing better than a cold beer on a warm night.
"His answer is a bit embarrassing. It would be easier if you just made the assumption that he quite likes to follow people around and interfere in their lives," she says calmly.
~
"Then he needs more practice," Kevin chuckles, settling comfortably on the couch. "He's not interfering with my life at all."
Taking a pull from the beer bottle, Kevin watches her and then nods, "You want to know what I really do and who I really am?"
Beat.
"The short of it is that I work for an organization that is centuries old, and our primary focus is keeping supes a secret from the panicked masses, and maintaining the peace between supe groups."
~
"So you're basically a watcher?" Lilith chooses to use the term from several pop culture sources. "Keeping the human race safe from everything that goes bump in the night?"
She pauses.
"You're basically, Giles, without having someone running around and killing all the vamps and witches?"
It's a bit hard to swallow, but she doesn't think for one second that the detective is making it up.
See? You had to come here to find this out, Miss Lancaster.
"JJ? Can you do me a favor and just keep quiet for a few minutes?"
I hardly see why I need to do that. It's not as though the man can hear me. The ghost moves across the room to stand behind Kevin. You should ask him already.
~
Kevin blinks, then grins broadly. "Yes."
He takes a long drink from the beer. "That's what we do. Keep the world safe from the 'bad' things," Kevin puts air quotes around the word 'bad,' "And keep the big bad monsters safe from the things that would kill them. We're called The Priory."
Glancing around, he tries to place the location of the ghost and gives up. Unless Lilith looks right at the spirit, Kevin won't be able to tell. "That's why I wanted to talk to Mandy. Why I believed you, and technically she was our first witness."
~
"He's leaning on your chair," Lilith points out with a sigh. "Peering over your shoulder. Grinning like a mad man because you finally spilled the truth."
That is not why and you know it, Miss Lancaster.
"Would you stop calling me that, JJ? I hate it."
Well I dislike being called JJ too. It sounds so childish.
Throwing up her hands, Lilith turns her attention back to Kevin. "Hell, I sound like a damned mad woman most of the time. So you wanted information from me. Fair enough."
You know that is not all it is. He aided you at the building in the sky.
"The Empire State Building?"
If you want to call it that.
"I do."
Well yes. He did help you there.
Lilith rolls her eyes as she watches John Jacob Astor wiggle his hand in front of Kevin's face. "Now he's defending you, and trying to get your attention."
~
"Techinically, I wanted information from Mandy. However, I'm lacking the skills required to talk to ghosts and spirits."
He grins as he listens to the one-sided banter. "Exactly how did you find Mr. Astor? Or did he find you?"
Kevin blinks and looks over his shoulder. "There's a theory that enough exposure and the right sorts of meditation can open a person's perceptivity, but it's never been tested with any true success."
~
"He followed me home. Almost like a little lost puppy dog." Lilith smirks, though she doesn't go so far as to stick her tongue out at the ghost.
I have never been so insulted! Miss Lancaster, do I look like a hound to you?
She doesn't deign to answer that question.
"It is entirely possible. I could have him speak to you, but not here. It needs to be in a place that I know is spirit free." She'd really hate to pull the wrong spirit into the skull.
Sighing, she looks straight at Kevin as she takes another sip of beer.
"Look, I've an event to attend in less than a week, and it seems as if JJ is attempting to play matchmaker here. He's insisting that I go, and that I have a date for it. I've skipped it for the last two years, so I really should put in an appearance." Taking a breath she stares up at the sconces on the wall.
"Do you want to attend a ball with me on Saturday evening?" At least he won't think she's insane if she starts muttering to herself.
~
Kevin pauses with the beer bottle partway to his mouth. He lowers it slowly and looks back at Astor, or assumes he's looking back at Astor and then looks back to Lilith. "AK Enterprises Midsummer's Ball?"
Of course, Kevin realizes in hindsight, the woman would have an invitation. She's both a celebrity and the upper society of New York. He's only going because Ashcroft told him to rent a tux and be there.
"I'd be honored to accompany you."
~
"You've heard of it?" Lilith sets the beer down on the table, ensuring that she uses a coaster because it looks like an antique. "Yes, that would be the event in question."
Reaching forward, she begins to peel the label off, and then stops.
"Are you certain you want to go?"
~
Kevin decides not to lie. There's no reason to do such a thing anyway.
"I've heard of it." He finishes the beer and sets the bottle on its own coaster. "I'll be there. I'll be representing Dunham & Browning Securities in an official sense. Unofficially, I'll be representing The Priory. "
Beat.
"I was going to go alone, but I'd much rather go with a pretty date on my arm."
~
The label continues to be peeled. It's a nervous habit from her younger years that seems to be rearing it's head at the moment.
"So you're not using me for information now, but how you think I might look in a dress?" Lilith actually laughs at that, and settles back in the chair. "I should have figured you would have been invited."
Glancing to where JJ is perched she shakes her head. "Are you quite satisfied now? The poor man was already going to be there. I don't see why you dragged me over here."
It would look bad for you to attend for the first time without a date. Mr. Curtis is the only man that I have seen you speaking with for more than three seconds.
~
"I really hope that's not how it came out sounding." Kevin shakes his head, and leans forward, resting his arms on his legs. "I think that Mr. Astor might be onto something. With the whole escort thing. You were invited. I was invited. Neither one us has a date. Why not go together? At least we know what we're really all about, so I don't have to make something up if I get a page and you don't have to explain if you're talking to someone who isn't me."
He leans back and stretches an arm over the back of the couch and grins. "Plus, you get to see me in a tux. Do you know how often I wear a tux?"
~
"Good lord, don't tell him that! He'll be more of a pain to live with now —"
I did tell you so.
Lilith ignores the ghost once more, simply because that doesn't warrant a reply.
"Seeing you all cleaned up may just be worth it, Detective Curtis."
"Oh, it will be," Kevin grins broadly. He's a terrible flirt, at least by his own reckoning, but now he won't have to listen to Kayla and Doris telling him that he should get a date for the thing. Never mind that the pair of them disappeared when Ashcroft was looking for someone to send in addition to Bryn.
"You too, Ms. Graves."
~
I will help you choose your dress, Miss Lancaster.
A glare is shot at the ghost, and she stops picking at the label. "I doubt it. I hate wearing evening gowns, I dislike going to these parties, and I'd much rather hide in a low-key bar getting a drink, than schmoozing with the upper crust of New York City."
There is a reason Lilith disappears after the tapings.
~
Kevin really wishes he could hear what Astor is saying, if that look is any indication. Maybe he'll have Kayla see if there's anything that the mics picked up.
"Instead of schmoozing, why don't we just make fun of them?"
~
"That sounds like it could be fun. If I do that, perhaps they'll think twice about inviting me again." Lilith grins at that idea, and then watches as JJ dropping down to sit beside her.
You are not going to get kicked out of this party. I am looking forward to going.
"You are not going to the party, JJ. Things will be hectic enough without you being there."
~
"Can you do that? Stop him from going?" It's Kevin's natural curiosity peeking through.
~
"It's possible. Difficult, but possible." Lilith glances at the ghost and then back to Kevin. "There are ways to do it, but they're not very, shall we say, nice… for the spirits."
Frowning a little, points to where John Jacob Astor is sitting. "I would just prefer that if I asked him to stay home he would."
~
Kevin turns to the spot that Lilith indicates. He should feel like an idiot for talking to dead air, and a small part of him does. The larger, more rational parts are thinking that this is an opportunity to direct Kayla's attention to the tapes later. It gives them all something to look for.
"If she asked you very nicely and I promised to have her home before sunrise, would you stay home, Mr. Astor?" Kevin asks the ghost that he can neither see nor hear. "Or perhaps a compromise? Come for cocktails and then leave Ms. Graves in my protective custody?"
~
Not a chance, Miss Lancaster. They did do that to me once. Rather uncomfortable to be stuck where they had me for ten years. I could not even leave the room to catch up on my reading.
"I dislike doing it, JJ, so you hardly have to worry." Lilith actually smiles at Kevin as he talks to the ghost. She wishes there were some way she could help him actually see John Jacob Astor, but it amuses her that he's at least trying.
That seems a fair compromise. I should like to see the estate and all the pageantry that is involved with a ball.
The necromancer almost wishes that a compromise hadn't been offered. Nodding at Kevin, she repeats, "He likes the idea of your compromise. I'm thinking he'd rather stay as a chaperone though."
~
The way Kevin sees it, the ghost is going to come one way or another. He might argue with Lilith, or he might not and simply show up and give her a start. It's better that the spirit feels he's attending and departing on his own terms.
There is a reason that The Priory tapped him.
"We've done away with chaperones these days," Kevin directs his words and attention to the ghost. "I give you my word that I won't take advantage of or sully Ms. Graves' reputation."
Beat.
"I'm a man of the law. I used to be a police officer."
~
The fact that you have done away with chaperones is why the world is in such a sorry state these days. There is none of the propriety.
Lilith covers her mouth to keep from snickering at that. Grinning, she whispers, "He's a bit disconcerted with the fact there are no longer chaperones."
Do you know lawmen are generally corrupt?
"They are not."
He had better treat you properly, Miss Graves. I will be nearby, though I will not bother you unless necessary.
"He… agrees to those terms." Not exactly, but she won't mind if JJ watches from a distance. It's almost endearing to think that the ghost wants to look out for her even though he can't really do anything.
~
"He might have a reason to be," Kevin considers. He knows the sort of trouble he got up to as a teenager.
He's amused the ghost has adopted the necromancer, it would seem. He also suspects from what he's hearing of the conversation that he's gotten a chaperone anyway. Which is probably a good thing that his intentions toward Lilith are not to get her into bed at the end of the night.
"I promise to be a well-behaved gentleman, Mr. Astor."
~
"I have never had a chaperone in my life, and I don't intend to have one now," she says aloud, but she's smiling in the direction of the ghost. "But I do appreciate that you are looking out for me, JJ."
Hmph. You watch that one, Miss Lancaster. He does appear to be on your side, but it is most difficult to discern intentions based on that.
Lilith glances over at Kevin and laughs. "Just don't be a droll gentleman, or you'll make me regret inviting you."
