After the sun set the following night, the first thing Marko did was check messages on his laptop. The first message he saw was from Jeanette; she wrote a detailed narrative about what happened after he left Asylum the night before. It read like one of those letters one can find in those smut magazines that can be bought over at the Sin Bin in Hollywood. Apparently after he left, Tabby-Cat showed up wanting to play in Jeanette's sand box; with a little help, the bookish witch really let loose. Jeanette said she almost wished he was there to join the party.
Should he be worried about that? He didn't know. He wasn't jealous; that wasn't the way it worked with the two of them. What he wondered about was whether it was Tabby-Cat making the moves in the sandbox, or if it was the other thing; if it was the other thing, then he wondered to what end? How did playing with Jeanette fit into the Plan? Other than that, Marko had to admit that he almost regretted missing out; even just to watch Jeanette bring out whatever wild side Tabby-Cat had in her.
The next message, posted exactly two minutes after Jeanette's, was from Therese. It was a brief, tersely written memo-style message sent to all Kindred of the Los Angeles Domain; both apologizing for the short notice and insisting that all attend a Gathering of vital importance to the stability of the Court the following night. As it was written last night, that meant tonight. Marko had no doubt this was going to be about the Harpy situation. She designated the Yen-Zen Garden as the place, and declared the time. It was fairly early in the evening, which gave all very little time to reschedule to make it, but left ample time after Gathering for Kindred to do as they would.
The fact it was in the Chinatown Elysium was perfect for him. He had somethings to do in Chinatown tonight. He could attend the Gathering, get a good look at the Dirty Duckling's face when Bertram refused to be pinned as Harpy, and then do some farming for Mr. Ox-in-the-box. After that, he might be able to get some exercising taken care of; with the help of Ox, of course. That was why he was farming after the Gathering.
...be careful...
...don't let him take you with it...
"I have no plan of my own, so this will work." He said out loud, hoping he would be able to confuse the Bad Voice if it was around. The piece of the Network he could access was talking, so the Bad Voice was more likely with Tabby-Cat right now, but he couldn't be too careful...
After messages, the next thing Marko did was go down to shop at Tripp's Pawn Shop. Stepping in, he found one thing he wanted right away; as he was going to be doing some farming, a rake was bound to come in handy. He took the rake to Tripp, who greeted him in that trademark stoner way he always did, and asked if there was anything else he needed.
"I am a farmer tonight," Marko replied. "A farmer needs to prune the good from the bad. What do you have for that?"
Tripp had a fit of giggles. "Man; your syntax is always so mind-blowing!" He declared. "You really gotta get me some of whatever you're smoking, or at least share! Anyway, here's what I got tonight." He opened up a closed off cabinet behind him in his big cage. Marko perused through the articles. After eyeing a worn-down looking katana for a bit, something else caught his attention; a pair of one-handed sickle type weapons. Those he could easily carry around in his long coat; the one that matched his tall hat.
...yes, get those...
"Tell me about those sling blades, trippy broker of pawns." He said.
Tripp got excited as he pulled them out of the cabinet. "These are a great find!" He exclaimed. "They came in about three days ago. They're in super good condition; perfectly balanced, sharper than a razor blade, folded steel, and a good weight for throwing should the need arise." This last feature he added a little bit conspiratorially.
"They sound perfect!" Marko replied amiably. "What are you asking?"
"I was asking a hundred, but for you I'll go to eighty." Tripp offered. Marko gave him a look as if to say 'are you kidding me?' Tripp sighed heavily. "Alright; I'll let them go for seventy-five, but that's a steal as it is. Cut me some slack; I do have a business to run here."
Marko accepted the offer and paid man seventy five dollars, in addition to the fifteen for the rake. The exchange complete, Marko left the Pawn Shop. On his way out, Tripp called out to hook him up with whatever he had. Marko didn't say so, but he seriously doubted the trippy broker of pawns could handle what he had.
Given the fact that the Dark Sister called the Gathering, Marko discerned that Therese would have the Body tonight; quite likely for the whole night. While that was mildly disappointing, it was also something that could work out to his advantage; he might be able to piggy-back as an escort to the Prince tonight. It may look like a suck-up move to the other Primogen, but he didn't much care. If he had to, he could say it was to appease Jeanette. Odds were good that Therese would be calling on Fenris to act as valet, but even so it was usually easy enough to persuade her Highness that there was no such thing as too much security.
Just as he was about to meander over to Asylum, he realized that he forgot to pack up the trinket that Mr. Ox handed him; the real thing he needed to plant for his farming task at the Fu Syndicate building to be completed. He turned back and went up to his apartment. Once up there, he dropped the rake- he didn't need it after all – and stole away into the bathroom. He opened the medicine cabinet where he stashed the tiny idol that the Ox in the Box told him would take root and grow into Bad Luck for a specific target that was connected to that building. All he needed to do was place the idol in that person's locker in their training room. The locker number was number 9; he might have to pick the padlock. If he was blessed with good luck, the lock would not be booby trapped. Ox had a dusty laugh at that thought.
Marko tucked the idol into the pocket of his Cargo pants, and then it occurred to him that he should wear his long coat tonight; the fur lined one that went with the tall hat he was already wearing. The coat would also serve well in storing his brand new second-hand sling blades.
Now he was sure he was ready; now was time to check Asylum to see if he still had time to join in on Therese's entourage to the Garden Gathering.
He did. In fact, Therese was happy to have him along; she was actually surprised that he wasn't passed out in Jeanette's side of the room. Heaven alone knew where Jeanette herself was, Therese commented.
"She thought you might start putting together this important Gathering, Highness." Marko answered her, thinking quickly. "She insisted we go back to my apartment to be out of your way. She had especially naughty ideas for us after dancing..."
"I get the idea." Therese cut him off. It wasn't clear if she believed him or not; it could be she didn't want to hear any details. "I suppose she will be conspicuously absent tonight?"
"She said she would be there, highness; though you might miss her as she will be trying to stay out of sight." Marko answered. "This will be to keep up the air that she is in opposition to you just on the principal."
"That's actually a good thought." Therese allowed. "Very well, then; she can pretend to defy me; as long as it is all part of a ruse to lure out actual threats." The Prince motioned for Marko to get into the limo, and Marko complied; only mildly surprised to fine Fenris already inside. He sat on the bench seat beside her, leaving the one facing them vacant for Therese all to herself. Therese let herself into the car, not creating a single crease in her outfit. Marko always marvelled at how she was able to do that.
"You can speak freely in this car." She said to him. "I can assure you that Fenris will keep whatever is spoken in here in the strictest of confidence. As for Vandal, he knows better than to listen into conversations that I haven't invited him into."
Marko noted that she did not ask Vandal, who was piloting the car, for verification. That made sense; by asking him for confirmation, she would be in fact inviting him to participate. That wouldn't do.
"I presume you and my sister spoke to Bertram." She said, more of a statement than a question.
"Yes, your highness; we have." Marko confirmed.
"I am pleased to hear that." The Prince stated. "Then he will surely behave himself in the manner that is appropriate of his place in my court."
"Yes, your highness; he will. I have no doubts." Marko agreed. He glanced sideways at Fenris momentarily; still wary of revealing too much of what was really going on here.
...It doesn't matter...
...means nothing to her...
...she just wants out...
That was good to know. The Network- or at least his little part of it- was still talking to him; that meant the Bad Voice was probably with Tabby-Cat, which meant it wasn't here with him and wouldn't know about this. It was also handy to know that the Wolf-Girl was here with no personal agenda beyond getting her duties over with. Her desire to leave the city might be of use to him at some point, though he wasn't sure how just yet.
Outside his head in the car, the trip was quiet. Inside his head, he revealed to the Network his own plan that he didn't have, and the Network put in their insights and agreements; there were still some that wanted to skin the Tabby-Cat, but Marko wouldn't have it. That would only happen if absolutely everything else failed. By the time Vandal got them to the Garden parking lot and opened the doors from the outside, the plan he didn't have was as ready to go as it could be; taking into account it didn't exist except outside of his own imagination.
He was ready to deal with the night one thing at a time; starting with the Gathering in which a Harpy would not be named.