Goblin Town -- Logs

Once lunch is finished and people begin to reconvene, things move toward new business. Some of it is boring budgetary stuff that Cinnamon will be expected to take charge of in the new fiscal quarter -- which she finds quietly exciting! Some of it is small administrative issues... and then Jalil says, "I have a proposal." His dark face is serious as he looks around the room, "The character and makeup of the council has changed much over the last years. In light of that, I think we need to consider how the peoples who are represented are chosen. Some territories are cut up haphazardly, while others seem to overlap strangely -- or do not overlap in the ways they should. Europe is a strange patchwork and the Pacific is scattershot. I make a motion that we consider redrawing the council territories in the next quarter."

Thorn blinks in surprise and sits up. This is unexpected, but... it makes sense? But he has to consider if there's not something else that Jalil has planned in this 'redistricting' -- and he kind of dislikes that he thinks that -- but the past few months have certainly been kind of paranoia-inducing!

Cinnamon listens with interest... though she also realizes she's likely the least affected amongst all the Councilors here. She's the one that takes the unrepresented folks, which means she's likely to be left with no one at all to represent if this re-drawing occurs... but then she's also not invested in any particular culture or biome. She glances around thoughtfully to see how others are taking this... then raises a curious hand, "Jalil, a query, please?" She waits for his gaze to turn to her, then says, "May I ask why you consider the Pacific to be scattershot? I, um... was under the impression that I represented all of Pacifica, after all?" Her smile is a bit worried, "Was I incorrect?"

Around the table, there's some shifting and murmuring at this apparently unexpected proposal. A few people have mentioned here and there that there is overlapping and disputation of territories, true, and having an official redrawing of them would perhaps fix that. But it might also cause strange issues with power. Sparrow's eyes are slightly narrowed; his is one of the sometimes disputed territories. Elias looks thoughtful: his territory includes part of Europe, as does that of both Marcus and Hilde -- and, now, Cinnamon as well. Aisling's technically does too, but hers is confined to the British Isles, and consequently doesn't overlap anyone else's lands.

Aoi's territory is partially in the Pacific Ocean and Bright Wings' head is tipped curiously as Jalil answers Cinnamon's question, "Because some of the Pacific domain should possibly be under Aoi's protection and some under yours. There was some disputation at one point if the Philippines was hers or Liam's. At another point, Qadan wanted to claim Alaska because the Inuit and Ainu came originally from Mongolia."

Cinnamon blinks at a sudden thought: if the re-drawing is... stringent enough, will that cause the Council to shrink in numbers? Hmm... and might those 'shrinkages' just happen to be folks who believe in hiding? She'd like to think not... but (for example) it'd be really easy to lump the British Isles and Scandinavia in with Northern Europe -- and that'd wipe out both Hilde's and Aisling's positions. Same thing with the US. The little dragon nods slowly, "Um... okay... and thank you for the clarification. I think, though, I'm going to let others do the seconding and discussion on this one... since I'm so new, and if I understand correctly, Liam only took on people to represent because no one else was representing them." She grins shyly as she adds, "Though I'll be listening with great interest!"

Jalil smiles, "And that, I think, is something that should be rectified. You deserve more than scraps."

Cinnamon mentally tots things up as she glances around at everyone else. Europe is actually kind of dinky, compared to Asia and Africa and the Americas... so it'd make sense- she blinks startledly at Jalil -- then beams! "Oh, that's so sweet -- thank you, Jalil! I'm honestly good with what I have, though, if it's a bother to others. I mean, I've been learning the people's languages and cultures, and they're all quite fascinating!" She grins, pushing her glasses up as she adds, "But if I can help at all with this, please let me know? I'm happy to do research or whatever for folks!"

Jalil looks around the room and then silently over to Sparrow, who sighs. "The motion has been moved and seconded... I think." He looks over at Hilde, "...what exactly was the motion again?"

Cinnamon thinks for a moment, then adds -- accidentally at precisely the time Sparrow speaks, "Actually, I do have one last question, please, Jalil? We've got 13 Councilors here, right? So... do you mean re-adjusting the world map for these 13 folks? Or did you have different folks or fewer folks in mind? Or something else entirely?" That, she figures, will help clarify Jalil's desires.

Hilde opens her mouth, then pauses as Cinnamon asks the question... at which point Hilde nods, "That's a fair point, actually." Cinnamon nods at that -- though she shoots an apologetic glance at Hilde re her interruption!

Jalil nods gravely, "Let me reword the motion, please. I move that we reconsider how the districts are distributed amongst the current thirteen councilors. I do not move to do away with councilors. The number we have holds great significance."

Cinnamon watches with fascination, wondering who will offer to assist in the re-assessment, and who will decline. She can see all kinds of interesting possibilities and difficulties in this! Are the councilors representing all the people in their terrains, after all? Or only the supernaturals? Can a councilor be reprimanded if s/he doesn't adequately care for the non-supernatural? Should the various demesnes be divided based on geographical area, or population (whether supernatural or both), or... something else?

Hilde says, "It's been moved and seconded that the council discuss that the districts of the thirteen councilors be reconsidered and that territories possibly be redrawn and redistributed between the current thirteen councilors. The motion does not include changing the current council members or the number of councilors. All in favor of such a discussion?"

There's some murmuring around the table. Jalil's hand goes up, as does Nasteexo's and Killa's. After a moment, Bright Wings' hand goes up too. Marcus considers... finally his hand goes up, though slowly and thoughtfully. Sparrow too looks thoughtful. His eyes are narrowed but his hand goes up as well as he finally slowly says, "I can't think of any idea so dangerous you can't even talk about it."

Perhaps surprisingly, both Jarek and Elias' hands also go up. Cinnamon nods in agreement with Sparrow -- her hand is also up. Thorn's brow furrows. It would help to know how the council was originally arranged, and why. He thinks that some research is in order. He pulls out a small notebook, opens it to a new page, and writes in a new topic: 'History of the Council.'

Josie, Hilde, and Aisling don't look upset; they simply look curious. Hilde says, "All against?" She looks around the table and sees that she herself, Josie, and Aisling have their hands down; she chuckles. "Those that abstain?" The last three hands go up -- and Hilde continues, "The motion passes. There will be a discussion concerning the redrawing of the territories between the current thirteen councilors."

Cinnamon glances at Jalil as she adds, "Could we maybe be sure to include Snow in the discussion as well, when she arrives? That... might be polite?"

Jalil says, "Of course we will include her. She has a territory as well." Cinnamon nods with a smile to Jalil, pleased at his kind responses to her several queries.

Sparrow chuckles, "Qadan's replacement's gonna have one interesting first issue, eh?" He grins down the table at Cinnamon, "You can help her with what that's like, eh, darlin'?" Cinnamon grins shyly, pushing her glasses up, and doesn't reply. Unless Snow snubs her, Cinnamon absolutely intends to be as helpful and friendly to the new girl as she can! She grins ruefully to herself as she realizes: unless someone really wants the peoples she now represents, she's likely to argue for keeping them... for the simple reason that she's invested quite a few hours in learning their languages and cultures! That makes her smile to herself, before she glances up to see what's next on the Council agenda.

Sparrow leans back in his chair and looks around the room, considering, "Well, that was unexpected. New councilor. Possible new districts. Anything else exciting happens and I'm likely to faint." There's some laughter around the room. Thorn finds himself in agreement with Sparrow's sentiment, though it does make him look to the entrance to the council room. Cinnamon grins shyly. She's just pleased there's been no explosions, metaphorical or actual!

There's very little else exciting on the agenda, so the meeting is adjourned as the sun goes down. There's some language in the adjournment about interim meetings for the discussion of the redistricting, since not all of the councilors are present. Josie leans over and murmurs, "And of course everybody's going to be politicking and talking about it between meetings."

Cinnamon giggles and nodnods to her friend, "Totally!" Once the meeting is officially closed, Cinnamon turns to Bright Wings and smiles, "Thank you for your patience with this young one's small efforts at translation. I hope they were not too disappointing?"

Bright Wings writes down, This humble one appreciates the honored one's assistance. There was much talking, and it would have been very difficult without so much assistance. My lady will be much interested.

Cinnamon beams at the kind praise, "Oh! You are too kind, Bright Wings-san!" A moment later she adds thoughtfully, "If there is aught on which your lady wishes clarification -- both regarding this meeting, and the paperwork you were kind enough to take for her at the last meeting -- this young one would be honored to be of any assistance, of course!" Once Bright Wings thanks her again, then heads off to his rooms, Cinnamon adds with amusement to Josie, "Think I should have waited a bit before learning languages -- since now I may end up with all new folks!"

Josie giggles, "Nah. It's good to know the languages. Besides, I suspect that it's mostly going to be like, Sparrow and Killa really jostling..."

Cinnamon tilts her head curiously at Josie, "You don't think the European factions may face a call for consolidation?"

Josie thinks about it before she says, "I suspect that there might be a little jostling around with the Slavic countries, but those lines have been drawn a long time." She glances toward Marcus and murmurs, "He doesn't want his territory to change."

Cinnamon looks even more curious, "Why not? I mean, when you think about it, in comparison to Asia, Africa, or the Americas, Europe is pretty dinky -- and it's divided up into five or six chunks!"

Josie thinks about that and looks really thoughtful, "That's true... but it's really pretty populous... well..." She blinks slowly, "I wonder if they're going to try to consolidate part of Asia into Europe..."

Cinnamon pragmatically replies, "Or split up South America or Africa into more pieces. There's a lot of really disparate cultures there, after all!" She grins as she adds, "So why doesn't Marcus want change?" Then she blinks at a sudden thought, pushing her glasses up as she slowly adds, "Or... is it just that he doesn't like change... especially change he's not controlling?" She's careful, of course, to keep her voice low, so only Josie should be able to hear it. Or Aisling, of course.

Josie considers that and glances in Killa's direction, lowering her voice, "Killa won't want to give up territory. He's already pushing against Sparrow's. As for Marcus, he likes his territory. He holds onto it tightly. He doesn't like... right." She nods at Cinnamon's comment about not liking change.

Cinnamon grins and nods relaxedly, "Got it! Well, should be really interesting to see how the various factions shake out." Cheerfully she adds, "It might even cause old barriers to come down some, maybe!"

Aisling murmurs, "My territory is not getting redrawn. It's the British Isles. That's it. It's been the British Isles for time out of most minds." She chuckles softly, adding, "No one else will want to deal with that." Then she puts her arm through Cinnamon's, "Let's go find something to eat and something to drink."

Cinnamon looks curiously at Aisling, even as she follows along, "Why would no one else want to deal with the British Isles? Surely they're not that bad?"

Aisling laughs, "Oh, they're not bad at all -- except no one wants to learn all the different flavors of Gaelic, much less Welsh!"

Cinnamon giggles! "Well, Welsh is a very different sounding language, true... though I think it's pretty?" She blinks at another thought, pushing up her glasses as she adds, "But... I know Marcus doesn't speak all the languages of the countries he represents? Honestly, trying to find out what all the Asian or African languages were, too, would sound like a huge deal to me too? Aren't there supposed to be like 400 different tongues, for example, in India alone?"

Josie says, "Jalil speaks every language of all the people he represents. It's a point of pride for him -- even the dead ones."

Aisling nods, "And I can speak the old dialects of English. But not all councilors know all the languages. I don't think Nasteexo knows them all."

Cinnamon brightens, "Oh! You and Jalil know all your folks' tongues? Awesome! I was wondering if I was the only one trying to learn the people's languages, and what I was doing was silly, or something!" She glances curiously between Josie and Aisling as she adds, "So... if you two could divide up the world any way you wanted... how would you do it, for the 13 Councilors?" A moment later she adds with quiet consideration, "Killa said some very interesting things to me, earlier, too... he said war and willing sacrifice were all honorable ways to die. But I found myself wondering, later: didn't he require children of the parents who followed him? So then I wondered: does he feel children can be said to be willing sacrifices?" She adds in explanation, "I want to try and understand everyone's perspectives... even if I don't agree with them."

Josie considers, "That's an interesting question. I mean... I would keep my territory mostly the same and have Killa stay mostly in South America and have Sparrow take most of Central America and Mexico... I'd really have to think hard about the rest..."

Cinnamon nods curiously to Josie, "So... would you be parceling out according to cultural population, maybe? Or geography?" Glancing around, she adds more pragmatically, "Oh, can we change clothes maybe while the food's being served? I don't want to get these nice clothes messy, after all!"

Aisling nods, "Yes. Let's change out of formal clothes and into comfy clothes."

Josie grins and nods, tail wagging, "Yes! That way I won't snag on things!"

Cinnamon giggles at Josie, "You're not snaggy! It's just that you're... you're super-cuddly, right?!" She laughs, almost skipping between the two women -- then waves, "Oh, there's Thorn and Shane -- hi, guys!" Josie wags and starts to wave herself as well -- and just as she goes through the door into the yurt, she manages to snag a couple of fringes on the doorway -- not tearing them, but she does snag. Shane grins and waves, then chuckles and helps get Josie unsnagged.

Cinnamon eeks! -and hastily backs away so she doesn't make things worse. She whews and beams at Shane as he helps, "Awesome! Not only did I manage not to trip and make things worse... but we had Shane to the rescue!" She laughs, not quite skipping into the yurt so she too can change into her ubiquitous jeans, sneakers, and shirt. She happily decides to leave the French braid, though -- she thinks it looks really nice!

With some help from Josie, Cinnamon takes a moment to shift to dragon shape behind the yurt so she can unbuckle and remove her nifty harness, so Harry can work on it tomorrow. After that it fortunately only takes two tries before she's human again! The harness and the sheet are neatly bundled into the yurt, and then Cinnamon grins as she adds to Aisling, "So, you didn't say, Ash! How would you re-organize the 13, um... demesnes?"

Aisling smiles, "I might rejuggle Europe a little to make it more equitable, but there might be some resistance... and I'd put a firmer boundary between Killa and Sparrow, just to stop the growling -- and perhaps re-draw the Asian boundaries."

Cinnamon giggles at the 'growling' comment! -- then nods, "So mostly you'd, um... sort of strengthen what's there already, but more clearly? OK, that makes sense..." She glances around, pushing up her glasses as she murmurs to herself, "Wonder what Jalil has in mind...?" She doesn't immediately spot Jalil, so she cheerfully gets into the buffet line with her friends.

Shane steps into the yurt to drop off his sword, then walks back with Cinnamon and the others to get dinner, "I hate to be paranoid, but the way the meetings have gone lately...!"

Cinnamon laughs and nods, "Like I was telling Thorny earlier: I sure hope nothing goes explosively bad in this meeting -- or I'm going to start thinking it's me!"

Shane grins and squeezes Cinnamon around the shoulders, "Nah. Peaceful is usually how it goes. Some tension and bickering, maybe." Cinnamon beams shyly up at Shane! She really likes his hugs, even though they often leave her speechless!

Thorn has been thinking carefully on the issue of the Council's history. Surely there's something written down, that's easily accessible to non-Council members? He's been tentatively asking about said history, and brightens when Cinnamon, Josie, Aisling, and Shane return to the dinner area. He waves to them as he sees them, then makes his way to Elias, greeting the vampire and also checking to make sure Elias doesn't want to just retire early before Thorn tries plying him with questions about the history of the Council.

Elias is happy to talk with Thorn; he smiles, "That's a complex and interesting question. The council is relatively modern, in comparison to the history of civilization as we know it. Once, the various nations of the world simply went about their lives on their own and each civilization did as they pleased. The supernatural beings lived within their societies as their ethos demanded. The gods or fae or -- in some cases -- monsters coexisted with their people and there was no cohesion." The vampire goes on, "As the Age of Reason began to dawn, things... changed. Science began to 'prove' that we didn't exist and we began to reach out to one another."

Thorn blinks. "The... Enlightenment? The Council only dates back to that time period?" No wonder things are chaotic with regards to the territories! The supernaturals from marginalized peoples would have been given the short ends of the straw, in comparison to those in more 'developed' colonizing nations.

The Vampire goes on, smiling, "The continents were fairly separate. I mean, there was navigation. Pacifica was colonized by people in small boats. The Ainu and Inuit crossed over from Asia. The Vikings began crossing over from Europe around 1OOO CE. The Romans tried taking over the whole world, and the Mongols effectively did so, for the time frame they were in... the Moors made their incursions into Spain... cultures began to intermingle. When that happened, the different supernatural beings came into contact with one another."

Elias motions toward Hilde, then Marcus, then Aisling, "The Norse. The Germanic peoples. The Celts... they have a lot in common, but they are not all exactly the same. There is interbreeding, but there is also the variances born of separation -- just as horses and zebras are both equids, but are not the same species. The seeds of the council started when it became obvious that just as humans went to war, supernatural species might do the same... and since there are far, far fewer of us than them..."

Thorn ohs, and nods thoughtfully. That puts the origin of the Council a lot further back in time. "That makes sense," he says. "So the formal council dates to the Enlightenment, but they were meeting for hundreds of years before then?"

Elias nods, "The formal formation is fairly new, but delegations from different nations and peoples were coming together for centuries before that. There are records somewhere for the first council meetings. They can be hunted down, if you'd like to see them?"

Thorn nods, then blinks excitedly. "Oh, yes, please!" he says enthusiastically -- then a little more calmly, "I mean, yes, please! It struck me that knowing the history of the council might help in, well, navigating the politics of it, to understand Jalil's proposal for restructuring, uh... redivisioning? Redistricting it?"

Elias nods, "I am curious as to why he brought it up now, but it's an interesting proposal. He's right in that the character of the Council has changed. Right now, there are four out of thirteen councilors under the age of fifty. I do not know Snow's age -- nor Sparrow's, honestly; he's never said. In human years, though, I suspect he's fairly young compared to many of the rest of us. There's a changing of the guard happening."

Thorn nods thoughtfully, though inwardly he hopes Elias is on the council for a very long time! "Thank you, Elias," he says sincerely. "Any help with compiling a history of the council would be really helpful, I think." But besides that, he knows, it'll mean he'll get to work with Elias a bit more than he has in the past; he really does like the man.

Elias promises Thorn he'll help to hunt down whatever records of the council that he can find, adding, "There will need to be some translation. Not all of them are in modern English. Actually, not all of them are in English at all." As he says that, he tries to find Cinnamon and Josie, so he and Thorn are with that little group. Thorn thanks Elias warmly. He's very eager to start this project, and he makes a note to let Cinnamon know he's going to try, and will let her know of everything he finds.

Elsewhere, Cinnamon fills her plate with food as she slowly progresses through the line with her friends, then settles with them at an open table. As she eats, she glances around thoughtfully, wondering if she can spot Kestrel... and maybe wave them over for a moment? Cinnamon needs some advice! Fortunately Kestrel is easy to spot-- they tend to dress rather flamboyantly. They see Cinnamon waving and come over, carrying a cup of something and wearing a long broomstick skirt of the type most people haven't seen much of since the 90s, "What do you need, sweetheart?"

Cinnamon beams a bit nervously, hoping that 'sweetheart' comment is just... like, being nice, maybe? "Hi, Kestrel! Um, I was wondering -- do you know who I should go to, to get two good hides to Harry the Saddler? Also, is it okay that I used your name to send some trees to the rez?" Then she excitedly adds, "Also, I'm starting a supernatural assistance database!" She explains her intentions, then adds, "Sparrow said I should talk to you about folks to maybe add?"

Kestrel smiles, "Well, there are a couple of good indigenous cattle farms around here I can point out, and a couple in Kansas that would be amazing. Put me in a database like that -- I've got a lot of contacts -- and yes! Send the trees to me. You can address them to Kestrel Onca if you want."

Cinnamon blinks... then looks nervous, "Oh, um, is... is Kestrel Painter okay? Maybe? 'Cause... I already sent them?" She pulls out her cell phone, hastily adding, "B-but, um, but I'd really like the hide contacts, p-please?" She quickly adds Kestrel to the database as well -- she's excited about that!

Kestrel smiles, "Oh, I like that one! I haven't been called a Painter in years! That's a really southern one!" They seem quite tickled with that. "I do do some painting, too. But I turn my hand to a lot of things. That's what two-spirits are meant to do, you know?"

Cinnamon grins in shy relief that Kestrel doesn't mind the addressed name, then tilts her head curiously, "What kind of painting? I remember Sparrow said you did some of his Council outfit -- it looks really awesome!"

Kestrel smiles, "I did the beading and some of the dying. I'm glad you like it! I do some watercolor work... very naturalistic. Not very realistic, though."

Cinnamon will chatter happily with Kestrel for a bit about the various indigenous cattle farms, then select the one that sounds the best to her. That one gets checked for a website, so she can have the hides sent soonest to Harry. After some referencing of the website, and a bit more discussion with Kestrel, Cinnamon sends four one-side, vegetable-tanned hides to Harry -- the best she can find. That works out to two full hides, she thinks, and runs about $1,140. With the addition of the four trees (though she doesn't say this aloud), that comes to just under $2000. She's happy with that and the huge amount of food she brought, considering that two regular Western saddles -- which is significantly more elaborate than what she's getting, but roughly analogous in her mind -- can easily run between $300 to $600 each. So with that, plus the band saw, she'll have definitely covered her potential debt -- and then some! -- she's guessing. She just hopes Kestrel and Sparrow aren't annoyed at her for gifting more than she's getting.

Kestrel watches Cinnamon on the site and then leans in to whisper, "Don't let Sparrow tell you you're doing too much, by the way. He tends to want to be proud. A lot of people on the rez are."

Cinnamon grins shyly at Kestrel, "He, um... well, actually he said if I wanted to gift to his people, it was okay?" She adds even more shyly, "Oh, also? I, um, really hope the water harvesting stuff works out well for you all!"

Kestrel smiles, "I hope so, too. I just hope we don't have issues with some of the crazy white people and the water rights stuff."

Cinnamon smiles and shakes her head, "It should help them too, so I'd be surprised if they argue much... if they even notice! Plus, you don't have to do it on the borders of your land -- you can do it nearer the central areas first, to test it out."

The rest of the dinner is fairly relaxed. Himeko does eventually show up -- she's very apologetic, and appears quite ashamed to have missed the entire meeting. It seems the car she rented to make the trip broke down, and she was unable to get a replacement quickly enough to make it. Cinnamon tries to reassure Himeko that really, it was fine! She was happy to help, since it let her try out her new learnings! However, Himeko seems intend on apologizing without pause for Cinnamon having to take over translation duties. Thus, after about fifteen minutes more apologizing, Cinnamon finally says, "Well, actually, Himeko... I was wondering if I could ask for some help from you. Would that be okay?" She adds shyly, "Also, I do hope it wasn't a bother that I did the translations?"

Himeko stops in her apologies, immediately replying, "I will help in any way I can. Of course!"

Cinnamon hesitates, then cautiously says, "Well, first of all, if this -- what I'm asking about -- if it's rude? You'd please tell me right away, yes? B-because... well, I, um... I w-want to talk to Aoi about... about why she's in the reveal faction, so I understand it? A-and, umm... I..." she blushes a bit, "I... reallywanttolearnhowtodotheteaceremony, please? C-could you help me ask her... maybe?" She grins shyly as she adds, "When I first met you and Aoi, I remember you said you two were having a polite disagreement about the hide/reveal question, you know? So... I thought talking to both of you could really teach me a lot -- about Japanese courtesy as well as negotiations and the tea ceremony! W-would that maybe work... if it's not too much to ask?"

Himeko puts a hand over her mouth, but by the brightness of her eyes it's obvious she's beaming as she replies, "I would love to teach you the tea ceremony! It would be an honor! I will ask her to speak with you about this."

Cinnamon brightens with relief, "Oh, thank you so much, Himeko! That would be so awesome!" She happily plans a time to meet with the pleasant woman, and thanks her repeatedly -- it's clear Cinnamon is genuinely excited at the opportunity both to learn the tea ceremony and to talk with Aoi and Himeko.

As that conversation is winding down, Marcus eventually makes his way over. He's still wearing the more casual-seeming clothes as he says, "I wanted to make sure you're really OK with me coming back with the rest of you tomorrow, and let you know that if you need any help with anything, or any sort of compensation for that, I'm more than happy to do so."

Cinnamon blinks up at Marcus, her smile uncertain, "Wha... er, Marcus, why would I not be good with taking you back to Coblyn?" She grins teasingly, "You're not intending to do something weird like... like set off firecrackers during the flight or anything, are you?" Shane isn't glaring at Marcus, but he's looking like he's trying to figure out the angle.

Marcus chuckles, "No. That wouldn't do anyone any good, and I don't like the smell of gunpowder."

Cinnamon giggles, then grins cheerfully, "Well, how about this, then, for compensation? Let's find some interesting thing that's happening in Boston at some point, and we could go do that! Would that be fun?" She waves a hand, "No rush -- just whenever something you think is nifty comes up. That way I'll learn more about Boston too!"

Marcus nods, "It's a deal, then. We'll go somewhere and I'll show you around, in return for a car-free ride back to Coblyn. It's much appreciated."

Shane does glower at bit at that. To him, that sounds an awful lot like a date. Cinnamon beams up at Marcus, "Thanks!" She hopes he picks something like a festival or a concert -- she's heard they're great fun, but never had the courage to go on her own. To her, it doesn't seem like a date simply because she's never been on a real one -- as opposed to being taken out to get pumped for information -- so she isn't really that sure how they happen. She waits until Marcus has headed off before she curiously asks Shane, Thorn, and Josie, "Is it really that big a deal that I'm giving him a lift? Am I missing something here?"

Josie says, "You're saving him literally days of misery. It's a big deal. Imagine, if you needed to go anywhere more than about ten miles away, you were going to feel like you had the flu for several days."

Cinnamon thinks about that for a bit... then smiles ruefully, "Okay, I think I kinda get it, then, JoJo! That'd be a whole lot of no fun." She grins as she adds, "Also, I promise not to do any loop-the-loops on the way home, with him aboard!" She giggles mischievously.

Thorn purses his lips, "To him, it might be. He didn't exactly start on the best of feet with you. Uh, if that makes sense." He's also acutely aware of his role in that 'not the best foot forward' situation.

Cinnamon grins and nods to Thorn, "Yeah, I can see that, but... I mean, if someone told me something was fine, I'd believe them, right? So... does he not believe me when I say I don't mind at all?"

Shane says, "Some people live very transactional lives."

Cinnamon thinks about that, "I... can sort of see that? I mean, I made sure my request for saddlery work wouldn't harm Harry any -- but then, I'm the, um, the... person with more power? So... isn't it incumbent upon me to make sure I'm being a... like... well, sort of responsible about the, er, transaction? But Marcus, in comparison... like, he's not putting me out at all, you know? Er... does that make sense?"

Josie nods, "You and Marcus are equal, but you're not close. He doesn't want to impose." She smiles, "Maybe you can be friends!" That does make Shane scowl, but he's behind Cinnamon.

Cinnamon is quite earnest as she replies, "I hope so -- I want to be friends, or at least good acquaintances, with all the councilors!" Wryly she adds, "Niamh was so very, very wrong on so much! -- but I do think she had one good idea, in my position being the one that everyone should be able to talk to, you know?" She smiles at Thorn as she adds, "You know I don't blame you at all for Marcus being... well, a doodyhead, back there at the beginning?"

Thorn smiles quietly, "Thank you, Cinnamon. I appreciate it! It was... a bit of a confusing time for me."

Cinnamon laughs and gives Thorn a quick, warm hug, "Oh, Thorny -- I think we were both really confused, honestly!" She beams up at him, patting his arm as she adds, "But we're doing a ton better now, aren't we? We've both found things we're good at, and a place to live and help folks, and wonderful friends! Can't ask for more than that!" She brightens at another thought, then adds hopefully, "When Jaeger takes Marcus and me to find the French Basque rogues... do you maybe want to come along? Might be really helpful to have a really kick-bottom healer with us?" She thinks about inviting Josie and Shane... and then, with a small shyness attack, realizes she shouldn't be pushing herself constantly on them like this! They'll ask if they want to come -- and this way, they won't feel obligated to her or anything!

Thorn brightens, "I'll be glad to go, sure!"

Cinnamon beams and gives Thorn another quick, impulsive hug, "Yay! Thank you!"

Shane, hearing the bit about the Basque, says, "Do you think I could come along with that? I've never been to that region. I'll want to spend a little time on Coblyn, though. I need to make sure I'm keeping my end on some bargains that pay my bills."

Cinnamon brightens at Shane, "Oh! I, um, think it'd be awesome! Plus I can't imagine Jaeger minds having more really good fighters along too, right?" She grins happily up at Shane, "Plus time on Coblyn sounds good to me too, 'cause I have to do a bit of stuff there also before heading out!" She thinks for a moment, then laughs! "Actually, the Valkyrie may need a bit of repair time too -- if being shark-butted actually bent a board or something!"

The rest of the night goes well. Josie is the first one to wander off to bed, looking like a sleepy pup as she hugs everyone and tends to nuzzle folks on the cheek. Cinnamon giggles at the Josie-nuzzles... and soon thereafter the tired but happy little dragon patters off towards the yurt as well. It's been a long day, and she's greatly enjoyed dinner and chatting with everyone... but now she's going to fall over and sleep! Thorn heads off to sleep in the yurt as well. It's been a long but productive day... though there are deeper mysteries at work, he's certain. He has no idea yet what Jalil is planning, but he hopes he can find out -- and let Cinnamon know -- before it's too late.

Cinnamon awakens early the next morning, quietly getting herself ready for the day... and then rolling up the harness and heading out of the yurt. Once outside, she glances around, wondering where she's supposed to meet her ride to Harry's shop. Though she doesn't realize it, she looks inadvertently somewhat cute -- due to her small size, and the very large harness straps that keep trying to unroll out of her arms! Each strap is almost 2' wide, after all, to accommodate her draconic size. That, plus the (currently) four seats for humanoids, means her arms are at present quite full! Thus every time she tries to free up a hand to push her glasses back into place, she has to grapple with the springy leather trying to escape.

Shane grins at Cinnamon with the harness, then takes it out of her arms, setting it down on one of the picnic tables near the yurt. Using the straps themselves, he starts folding it into a better configuration for carrying -- and eventually turns what starts out as unwieldy into a relatively compact bundle. It's still heavy, of course, and it's not exactly small... but it's carry-able -- and then he puts it on much like a backpack. Apparently he intends to go with the ride to visit Harry!

Kestrel arrives not long after that, wearing a pair of blue jeans and a t-shirt, with their hair back in a braid, and a blue bandanna worn over their hair the way many women do when they're trying to keep it out of their eyes. In these clothes, their body shape does look much more stereotypically masculine, but they're wearing some lovely eye makeup. "Ready?"

Cinnamon blinks a bit startledly at Shane... then eyes the now-well-behaved harness, and says exasperatedly, "How did you do that?! What, does it sense fear or something?!" She giggles in spite of herself, then grins at Kestrel, "Hi there! Yep, Shane has soothed the savage leather-beast!" She clambers into the jeep's back seat as she happily adds, "Thanks for the lift, Kestrel!" As she buckles in, and waits for Shane to get settled in the front, she adds, "So is there anything on the agenda for today, or is it mostly councilors leaving, then the big rez feast, and then tomorrow get the harness, and after sunset we take off too?" She blinks a moment later, adding in surprise, "Oh! You know what? I completely missed meeting Snow last night! Did she get in okay?"

Shane laughs! "No, I just backpacked my way across most of England and Ireland -- before I literally stumbled my way into Rowan! That was when I learned how to make things pretty tote-able." He smiles, adding, "I still hike sometimes... one day I want to trek along one of the big trails here in the US."

Kestrel gets into the old Willys Jeep and smiles, "She did. She fooled us all and just sort of blended into the crowd. Apparently she's got some small ability at don't-see-me. She wants to meet everyone today."

Cinnamon blinks curiously at Shane, "You mean like that one, what's it, umm... oh! Appalachia, right? The Appalachian Trail?" She pushes her glasses up in startlement at Kestrel's comment, adding in surprise, "She did?! Oh my gosh, I hope that's not rude to you all or anything!" Hastily she adds, "I'm s-sure Snow didn't mean it that way, if so...?"

Kestrel shakes their head and laughs, "Not at all. Sparrow was impressed as hell -- he's a trickster, after all, you know -- and she's a benevolent type of spirit. I take it that it's something she's done before to basically get the lay of the land and make sure that people are happy and being treated well. She did apologize."

Cinnamon pauses at a sudden thought... then looks around herself, eyes slightly narrowed as she checks -- can she spot anyone watching? There's no one watching. Josie and Aisling are up getting coffee at the little outdoor kitchen, but that's really it. Cinnamon smiles and relaxes a bit at Kestrel's words, "Okay! That's nice of her."

The handoff to Harry takes very little time and the leatherworker is cheerful, letting them know that it won't take him long to get the modifications made and they can either come back tomorrow evening, or he can bring it on out to them himself. Kestrel gives him a hug and lets him know either they or Sparrow will come back to it. The ride back is uneventful as well. Cinnamon is mostly quiet on the drive, observing the spare beauty of the scrub biome. She smiles to herself as she imagines it with more trees -- hopefully Sparrow and Kestrel will make that happen! Cinnamon intends to see if she can find any water spirits to help things along, as well, of course.

On the drive back Cinnamon discovers, according to Kestrel, that the only thing on the agenda is a very short meeting to officially put Snow in Qadan's old seat, "Apparently no one wants the seat in limbo until the next meeting."

Cinnamon nods thoughtfully, even as she clings to the jeep's exposed upper framework, "Is it like bad luck or something?"

Shane laughs and turns around, yelling to be heard over the Jeep's loud engine, "I think they just don't want to give time for something to go wrong."

Cinnamon blinks at Shane... then grins shyly, "Guess I can get that... it's kinda what happened with Liam's seat too, right? So when's the meeting? Does it require all the councilors, or what?"

Shane grins and nods, "Exactly! It's probably pretty much as soon as we get back!" When they get back, everyone seems to be awake. Elias isn't in evidence, but it is full daylight, after all. However, there is a new person visible -- a somewhat petite woman with shining white hair and a face whose age is hard to place. She could be a somewhat weathered fifty -- or a very well-preserved seventy. Her smile is bright and her laugh is warm as she speaks with Sparrow. Cinnamon thanks Kestrel again as she gets out of the jeep... then studies the woman with interest as she absently combs back her flyaway hair with her fingers. She takes a moment to swiftly sift through her memories of last night... does she remember seeing a woman like this in the background, but not really paying attention?

Thinking back to last night, Nasteexo's horse had that bright white hair... but there was one other woman there who did as well. She was in the crowd, but unobtrusively. In fact, she wasn't sticking with any one group, but rather mingling with pretty much everyone but the councilors. She wasn't being aloof, though -- if someone spoke to her, she spoke back -- but she wasn't intruding on any discussions in which she would have been unwelcome either.

Cinnamon wonders idly what the folks on the rez think of the councilors -- since that's the information it's most likely Snow got, last night. Well, likely not much about Cinnamon herself, considering how new she is. The little dragon tilts her head thoughtfully at another interesting consideration: what species is Snow?

Sparrow glances up and grins when he sees Cinnamon is back. He waves her, Shane, and Kestrel over, calling, "Come meet our newest member!" He's got a big, steaming cup of something, and Snow is holding a glass of something in both hands. Cinnamon smiles shyly as she patters over, slightly behind the two larger and more confident people she's with -- she finds that unconsciously reassuring. Thorn hears Sparrow calling over to someone -- something about 'newest member'? -- and he realizes the woman standing with Sparrow was, in fact, around the night before, albeit not talking to the councilors. Thorn is surprised she didn't introduce herself the night before. He remains close by, though not close enough to eavesdrop.

Snow glances over and smiles as well. As Cinnamon gets closer, the woman's features do look more Asian than North American indigenous. It's easy to see, though, how she could have used just a little bit of the kind of don't-notice-me or don't-see-me kinds of charms the Celtic sidhe use on their trods to go unnoticed or to blend in amongst the rez folk. Sparrow says, "Snow, this is Shane, Cinnamon, and Kestrel. Kestrel is who keeps things running here when I'm gone. They're a two-spirit. Cinnamon is a councilor. She's the cutest little dragon you ever did see. Shane is... well, Shane's Shane. He's a an honorable warrior."

Cinnamon blinks, then turns slightly pink at Sparrow's description! She ducks her head slightly as she offers her hand, murmuring, "H-hello... pleased to meet you..." She hesitates, then adds, "W-what, um... uh, I m-mean... er, is it okay to ask w-what you are, too?"

Snow clucks her tongue at Sparrow, "You have embarrassed her." Her voice is gently teasing and has a soft Asian lilt to the accent. Cinnamon blushes a bit more hotly at that! Snow says to Cinnamon, "I am very pleased to meet you as well. I have heard nothing but good, and it is very OK. I am tngri. Like Qadan, but he was a black tngri. I am a white tngri."

Cinnamon looks faintly relieved at that, starting to pull her hand back self-consciously in order to use it to push her glasses up, "Oh! That, uh, I, I'm g-glad to hear it?"

Before Cinnamon gets her hand completely back, though, Snow takes it in both of hers, holding it gently, "I am sorry. I forget western customs. I have not been out of Mongolia for a while."

Cinnamon twitches uncertainly -- but then essays a small, shy smile, "W-well then, umm... w-welcome to the Council? Oh! Er... h-have you met Thorn?" She grins more sincerely at Thorn, reaching to draw him over if he'll let her, "He's pretty awesome. He's a healer!"

Thorn hears his name, and lets himself be drawn over, albeit blushing at Cinnamon's praise. He smiles quietly. "I do my best." Then he inclines his head to Snow, "It's a pleasure to meet you, ma'am!" Cinnamon grins up at Thorn -- but since she knows how embarrassing it is to be focused on sometimes, she doesn't say anything more about how well Thorn is actually doing. Instead she murmurs about getting coffee and slips quietly away. She's starting to get hungry too, but she figures there'll be plenty of food soon. Plus she's deeply relieved at how genuinely nice Snow seems to be!

Snow says to Thorn, "Healing is an honorable thing! It is a thing to hold the people together. In the days when all my people were nomads, healers were held in the highest regard because there were so very few of them." She'd already released Cinnamon's hand before it got awkward, and now she murmurs, "I apologize for what some might see as spying, last night. I move through my people quietly, listening to see what they need... how they feel... what is good amongst them, and what needs fixing. I think Sparrow told you that I intend not to vote on any small things at first because I do not know the lay of the land yet. But I have been told there will be a large vote?"

Cinnamon tilts her head thoughtfully as she fills a mug... then beams. She didn't see any iron bands at all on Snow! Perhaps that too will make the new person easier for everyone to be around. Hmm... Cinnamon can think of one other thing she needs to do, too, actually... she makes a mug of tea as well, then adds cream and sugar to it way she's seen Shane do with his tea. After that she patters back to the group, handing Shane the tea mug and smiling apologetically at Thorn, "I'm sorry, Thorny, but I don't know what you prefer in the morning." She catches the comment about a large vote, and blinks, pushing up her glasses as she looks to Sparrow, "There is? Oh! Did you mean like for the, um... the re-districting thingie?"

Thorn is also glad for Snow's apparent amicability. Maybe this really does bode well, and the only thing they have to worry about is whatever Jalil is planning! He smiles to Cinnamon, "It's fine, but thank you! One coffee usually does me well enough in the morning."

Sparrow smiles, "I think she's talking about the discussion on the territories."

Snow ahs, "Yes. That is what I mean. I will not abstain from this discussion, though my territory is not under dispute in any way that I know of."

Shane blinks and then smiles warmly at Cinnamon, "That's perfect, acushla, thank you." He gives her a one-armed squeeze that pulls her against his side for a moment.

Cinnamon blushes hotly with pleasure, her eyes sparkling for a bit! She stays comfortably close to Shane as she adds to Snow, "As far as I know, mine isn't either? But... I dunno, I almost get the feeling that Jalil wants to, like... well, maybe sort out the territories more based on... population, maybe, instead of, um... instead of culture?" She glances uncertainly at the others in the little group, "Did you guys get that feeling too, maybe?" Then she glances around curiously, wondering if Jalil's up and about already... maybe they could just ask him?

Sparrow says, "I'm not sure what his actual motivation is, really. I'm hoping it's to cut down on ruffled feathers -- Killa and I can get a little heated at one another. Josie and I don't. Her territory is east of the Mississippi and most of Canada -- largely the Iroquois. Most of the Sioux nations are mine. The Dine, Hopi, Zuni... the plains people are mine. The Tsalagi are hers, even though most of them got forced out here by that asshole Andrew Jackson."

Thorn considers. "I'm... not sure, myself," he says carefully. He wishes they could ask Jalil -- wait, could it be that simple? Well, yes, assuming the fire spirit would reply with truth.

Cinnamon glances curiously at Snow, then back at Sparrow, her voice thoughtful, "I'm almost surprised Qadan didn't argue more with Aoi about the extent of the territories held by the Mongols, too... or was I just not here for those arguments?" She wonders idly how Killa is doing too, actually... is he up and about too? Cinnamon smiles a bit shyly again as she adds to Snow, "I know you're a lot older and more experienced than I am, ma'am, but... well, as the next newest person to the Council, if there's anything I can do to help you, um... well, feel free to ask, please?"

Snow looks faintly amused, "I believe Qadan may have, at one point. But Aoi is quite persuasive." She smiles softly, "And I am happy protecting my people and their land. Most of the spirits and gods that the old Mongols worship have stayed on the steppes. The others are in a different part of the continent called Asia and Aoi's domain." Snow adds, at Cinnamon's offer, "Age is not always an indicator of ability, or of one's helpfulness. There is a girl in one of the tribes I watch over that is ten years old... that weaves the most beautiful cloth that has been seen in a hundred years."

Cinnamon feels strangely slightly more confident now, leaning a bit against Shane. It's nice! Makes her less likely to stutter too... which is a relief to her. She'd rather like to not sound like a blithering idiot to this nice new person, after all. She grins and nods to Snow, then has a quiet sip of her coffee. Jalil isn't in sight, but Killa is, as is Daniella. She's standing quite near him. He still seems to be moving carefully, though not quite so much as before. Sparrow glances around assessingly, "Everyone's up. Jalil's already in the room. So is Elias... I think we should get this done so those that need to get moving can get moving."

Cinnamon is quietly astounded at Killa's healing capabilities -- he'd had holes through his entire upper torso! Though... she narrows her eyes in thought... then nods once to herself: of course. Thorn obviously healed far, far more than he thought he did. She wryly hopes Killa really appreciates just how much a 'mere' human did for him, in that case! She nods briskly to Sparrow -- then pauses, "Uh! Ummm... is it, um... is it okay i-if we're not dressed up like usual for a Council meeting? Or, ahh... d-do I need to run change clothes first?" Then again, she remembers, Killa did say he could never thank Thorn enough. Cinnamon nods again to herself... that sounds about right. The snake-man didn't say anything like that to her, after all, and he'd have died had she not stopped the fires inside him. Well, good! That means he really gets it, about Thorn!

Sparrow grins and looks down at himself. This morning, he's wearing jeans and a t-shirt, "Yeah. This is a pretty impromptu, informal, interim meeting. I think Elias is wearing that green paisley shirt he loves so much."

Cinnamon laughs in spite of herself, then grins teasingly, "Okay, so this plus sunglasses?"

Snow looks somewhat confused. Sparrow smiles, "The shirt Elias likes is a very bright green. It is somewhat startling to the eye and some people find it garish. I quite like it. It is something his friends tease him about in a loving way."

Snow smiles and laughs, "Oh! These kinds of teasings are good!"

Cinnamon grins cheerfully at Snow! Still grinning, she adds, "Let's go get this done, yeah?"

Sparrow nods and heads toward the council room. This morning, the underground room is lit by another fire, but someone has also brought down some battery-powered electric lights. People still have their breakfast drinks with them; some still have breakfast nibblies as well. There aren't nearly so many spectators this time. Sparrow mentions in passing that most of the people who watched the big meeting have jobs and responsibilities they had to attend to today -- they just took yesterday off.

Elias is indeed wearing the eye-searing paisley shirt he loves so much and a pair of flared jeans. He's talking quietly with Marcus, who is still dressed casually and looks the least wiped out that he has for the entire time they've been there. It seems like even the honey and bread took a while to take effect. Or maybe it's just the thought of getting back home without having to ride in a car halfway across a very large continent. Cinnamon smiles, quietly pleased that she can do something nice for Marcus. He may be young and a bit silly about humans... but the only way he can learn more about them is to spend time around them, right? So, exposure to Thorn should be good for him! She suspects, after all, that even though she considers herself very much human -- as well as dragon -- Marcus himself won't see her that way! Thorn attends the meeting as well, more out of curiosity than anything. But he's very curious as to what Jalil is going to say or do.

Everyone takes their normal seats around the table, though the 'meeting' really doesn't take more than about ten minutes. Sparrow calls it to order, and Elias moves that Snow take Qadan's seat. Hilde seconds; the vote passes unanimously, and Sparrow dismisses the meeting. It is very, very much all a formality. Cinnamon smiles in relief that things went so smoothly! Thorn is likewise relieved. No unpleasantness this time!

Outside the meeting room 'burrow,' Sparrow speaks quietly with Cinnamon for a bit, since he knows the lunch feast is going to have quite a few people attending. There are a lot of food insecure people on the rez, after all -- and what doesn't get eaten at lunch will be distributed out to those that don't have much, "None of it will go to waste, darlin'. I promise."

Cinnamon smiles serenely up at Sparrow, "I know. You've never struck me as wasteful or careless with your people, after all, Sparrow."

Sparrow looks uncharacteristically serious for a moment, "You're right. I seem capricious sometimes, and I am sometimes seen as cruel, but the lessons I teach are never wasteful or careless. My people -- all of them -- have suffered too long and too much for that."

Cinnamon thinks about that for a moment... then smiles and pats Sparrow lightly on the arm, "Then hopefully you won't mind if folks like me, that don't have special mythic roles or anything, try to do nice things for them too."

Sparrow shakes his head, "I won't turn away help. I will turn away people who try to save them from themselves." He clarifies after a heartbeat, "Like the white people who put together those fucking schools... that's different." Cinnamon nods slowly, making a mental note to check into what Sparrow's talking about. She doesn't want to ask, though -- it seems painful to Sparrow, and she doesn't want to make him sad.

Walking past Josie's yurt to the feast area takes a little longer that it might otherwise have done, because Snow comes over to see the tent -- and is thrilled with it! Cinnamon grins, pleased to see Josie and Snow hitting it off so well! The big werewolf is delighted to talk to Snow about her lovely big yurt, after all. Snow loves that it is built in a traditional way and asks many questions about how Josie learned how to make it. Josie shyly admits she was worried that Snow might be upset that Josie was appropriating Mongolian culture. Snow shakes her head, "No! You are not taking it and making it for show. You are using it with appreciating."

Cinnamon calls cheerfully, from where she's watching Josie point out details on the huge felted tent, "She really does, too! She shares it with all of us -- she's awesome!" Thorn grins quietly, where he's standing next to Cinnamon.

Snow nods, "These are meant to house families. They are homes you can take with you. My people are nomads, and many of the indigenous people here were too. Their moving houses looked different, but it is the same idea."

Josie nods and grins, "I like these because they're big! I like having a whole lot of room, and wolves like having their whole pack with them."

Cinnamon giggles as she glances affectionately at Josie -- she's incredibly glad Josie counts her as a friend! She adds to Snow, "Are you leaving right away, or are you staying for the big lunch?" Then she hmmms to herself, glancing over towards the other buildings... did she remember to invite Marcus to the post-flight dinner at Cafe Prague? She should invite Jaeger too, she thinks. She'll call Spice and ask politely if Spice would be willing to pass on that invite -- especially since Cinnamon's pretty sure Spice will be there too, to see her sweetie as soon as possible!

Snow nods as she replies, "I want to stay for this lunch. I like these people. I like how they love one another, and how Sparrow loves them. His love is the kind that reminds them not to be complacent." Cinnamon smiles thoughtfully at that, nodding once. She can see that.

It takes a bit of time for everyone to get ready for the lunch feast, though Elias is going to rest through the afternoon instead, since the feast is outdoors. He doesn't sleep much, but he says there's something about the heat here that seems to sap him. The rest of the councilors are staying, though Sparrow didn't actually warn any of them about the lunch feast.

Cinnamon is a bit excited about the big planned feast -- not only did she and her friends help to make it come about, but she's curious to see what sorts of dishes are made. Fry bread was a tasty surprise to her, after all! Plus, perhaps while everyone's milling about and enjoying the food, she'll have an opportunity to talk a bit more to a few folks! She's actually very curious as to what sort of territorial divisions Jalil has in mind... and while she doesn't think she can ask Killa personally, she's also curious as to whether his snake form grows or shrinks depending on whether he's in feast or famine. Relatively speaking, of course. Death-defying injury, she thinks, should likely count as famine, in this case! Then Cinnamon blinks at a sudden thought: for that matter... how long is she? She's yet to be measured in dragon form! Maybe here would be a place she could do that, without accidentally whacking a building with a wing or tail? She grins wryly at that mental image, then wonders cheerfully how close she is to Liam's adult size!

There are close to three dozen people who have gathered for the lunch feast, and most of them look to be over the age of forty or under the age of twelve. The children are laughing and running around playing. Marcus looks surprised at all the humans running around, but most of the other councilors look quietly pleased. After all, happy humans in a territory that is so close to the land often means the supernaturals that live amongst them are healthy and happy as well. In fact, Cinnamon is pretty sure some of the people here are supernaturals. Cinnamon grins at that -- then wonders excitedly if they're maybe all supernaturals? She glances around for Kestrel or Sparrow, to ask. She'd like to ask Shane to measure her, but first they'll need something like string or rope... and a place where folks won't be frightened at seeing her draconic shape!

Kestrel is there with Sparrow, leaning against his side, and Sparrow has his arm warmly around Kestrel's shoulders. They're talking with a couple of people who have plates piled high, and it looks like there's a rather eclectic mix of food. Barbecue of some sort, salads of various types, all kinds of breads, and more. Cinnamon sighs a bit wistfully to herself and smiles as she watches Sparrow and Kestrel together. She thinks love is grand!

Thorn helps himself to some lunch. He's acutely aware the remainder will go to the reservation, though that doesn't bother him at all. Instead, it just means he's careful to only take what will fill him... which is hard, since this is all good food! Cinnamon wanders over in Sparrow's direction once she has her plate heaped up with food, as well. She's nibbling quietly as she overhears part of the conversation -- she's trying to figure out if all of the folks talking in this group are supernatural or not. She's also keeping half an eye out for Shane too, since she'd like him to do the measuring -- she trusts him not to make fun of her if she's bulgy or floppy or anything!

Fortunately Shane is easy to find: he's standing with Aisling, unwittingly between Cinnamon, and Sparrow's group. Cinnamon comes up next to Shane -- she likes being near him, though she's not consciously realized she gravitates that way. He gets a quick, shy smile from her as she listens to the conversation. Then Cinnamon blinks as she realizes: both Shane and Aisling are more 'aware' of supernaturals than she is, due to greater experience! She stands on tiptoe to whisper to Shane, "Hey, Shane... can you tell if everyone here is supernatural or not?" She knows Aisling will be able to hear as well, so her inquiring glance encompasses both beansidhe.

Shane and Aisling are apparently just talking the logistics of getting back home. He smiles down at Cinnamon, then glances up and around, "Some of them are, but only about half. There are quite a few humans. I think the humans here are more accepting of the fact that not everyone is human."

Cinnamon nods thoughtfully, then murmurs, "I was thinking of asking you if you'd, um, be willing to measure my wingspan and length, Shane? I can change here without whacking anything by accident, after all... if Sparrow says it's okay to change here, I mean?" She flushes self-consciously as she adds, "I mean, I, um, know I'm not full grown yet, but... well, I was just wondering?" She figures checking with Shane first is smartest, since if he's not interested in helping, she won't pester Sparrow at all.

Shane smiles, "Of course, acushla. More room here than most places on Coblyn, after all. It's gotten built up over the years."

Cinnamon nods excitedly -- then grins, "I'ma go ask Sparrow real quick, okay?" She patters over to the other group, shyly quiet as she surreptitiously studies the people there. Hmm... maybe she should play it safe and just whisper her request to Sparrow. It doesn't occur to her at all, of course, what that will look like! She takes a deep, slightly nervous breath... then carefully and slowly wanders around the group, trying to look casual -- and looking extraordinarily like someone trying to look casual -- until she's next to Sparrow, on the other side from Kestrel. She waits until the Trickster isn't speaking, then stands on tiptoes to whisper to him, "Could I ask a favor, please?"

Sparrow tips his head down to listen to Cinnamon's question, eyes twinkling. He knows she gets shy about the oddest things, so he's quite sure she's not going to be asking him anything even slightly inappropriate. Kestrel grins and keeps talking with the people around them. Cinnamon grins excitedly at the apparent permission, continuing to whisper, "C-can you tell me if it's okay to change shape here, or somewhere near here? Shane's promised to measure me, so I can find out how close I am to Liam's size -- 'cause I know I, um, I'm not yet full grown, but... w-well, I've been wondering, you know? So... so is it maybe okay? I won't scare anyone?"

Sparrow mms and nods, turning his head to whisper back to her, "Just over that rise to the east. Plenty of room. You can probably spread out your wings too. Most of the people here are supernatural-aware... and we'll keep the ones that aren't over here and out of the way. That work for you?"

Cinnamon beams gleefully up at Sparrow, almost bouncing on her toes with excitement, "Okay! Awesome -- thank you so much!" She darts off towards Shane again, alight with happiness, "Shane! Shane! He says okay if I go over that rise to the east! Is that okay with you?!"

Thorn has to smile at Cinnamon's exuberance. "Want some help?" he offers. Then he wonders if maybe she'd rather have Shane all to her self.

Shane smiles, "Let me grab some paracord or something. I'm sure Josie has some."

Cinnamon bounces happily on her toes, "Okay!" She's excited enough that she's once again unwittingly beaming in that beautiful way that truly lights up her face, as she adds a bit nervously, "I hope I'm not a shrimp or anything, compared to Liam!" Then she beams just as dazzlingly -- and just as unwittingly -- at Thorn, "Sure! I've never done this before, so making sure I'm properly stretched out would be helpful!"

Shane looks a little stunned for a moment as she beams dazzlingly up at him -- then he blinks and smiles back at her, "You're also a baby compared to Liam, acushla. Remember, he was ancient."

Cinnamon laughs as Shane heads off towards the yurt, "That's okay -- now we can at least find out, you know?"

Thorn smiles warmly at Cinnamon, even if a bit taken aback by her beautiful smile, "Great!" He hopes he hasn't just trod all over some ersatz Cinnamon-Shane time, though...? Here and there around the area, a couple of other people are blinking at the beaming little dragon too. One of them, perhaps unnoticed, is Marcus.

Cinnamon dashes over to her backpack, to pull out the sheet as well... and Shane comes back a bit later with a hank of paracord in hand. Cinnamon giggles happily, impulsively hugging him -- she's set her plate of food aside some time ago, considering her current excitement! She patters along next to Shane and Thorn, chattering happily at them: does Shane know how long the paracord is? Should she lie down for the measurements, or what? Can they do nose to tail tip, as well as her wingspan too, please? Shane replies, "The paracord is twenty feet long. Josie has different measurements of it, so she knows how much she has available for different uses." He's grinning at Cinnamon's excitement as he adds, "I think lying down would help out. That way we can scramble around on your back a little more easily for the length measurements."

Cinnamon nodnods happily, nearly scampering down the far side of the ridge! She pauses at the bottom, looking up thoughtfully... then grins, "Here should be out of sight enough! Okay, here goes!" With a small poof of displaced air, there's a lovely -- and excitedly wiggly -- scarlet dragon in her place now. "Yay! This is gonna be so cool to know!" She nearly flops happily down, flicking out her tail -- which doesn't seem to want to stop flicking, such is her excitement -- and curling her paws under herself as she stretches out her neck and head on the ground, "There, how's this? Am I straight?"

Shane laughs as he starts uncoiling the hank of paracord and refrains from saying, 'Well, I had assumed so...?' -- because he knows Cinnamon is still learning to play... and teasing her sometimes hurts her feelings. He's still grinning, though, as he tells her, "You're going to have to stop wagging, acushla!"

Cinnamon blinks startledly at Shane, her head rising reflexively... then turns her head to glance over her shoulder. She blinks again, then laughs at sight of her tail flicking back and forth like an excited cat's... then narrows her eyes and focuses on making it lie still. A moment later she whews! "There we go -- how's that?"

Shane grins as Cinnamon seems to stare down her own tail! He hands Thorn one end of the paracord, then takes what appears to be a grease pencil out of a pouch on his belt. He keeps the other end of the cord in hand. Cinnamon concentrates on remaining very still as two of her closest friends clamber up and down her back -- she doesn't want to either accidentally flick them off, or unwittingly wag her tail right into one of them! Shane asks Thorn, "Hold this down near her tail?" Thorn nods, taking the paracord and heading down to the distant end of Cinnamon's long tail. The young dragon works on firmly pressing the spaded tip down to the ground! She certainly doesn't want to knock her friends ass-over-tea kettle (though that phrase wouldn't occur to her) with a happily lashing tail!

Shane scrambles up along Cinnamon's back and neck, and marks the end of the cord. Then he calls for Thorn to bring up his end of the cord, so as to hold it where Shane made the little black mark on the shining crimson scales. Clearly Shane has either measured things with this method before, or has already thought it through.

Once Thorn does so, Shane marks a spot on the cord for how much more it takes to go from the mark on Cinnamon's hide, to the tip of her nose. He also boops her nose to see if that will make her laugh -- and Cinnamon giggles in spite of herself! Then he has her spread her wings and repeats the process. She raises her head and turns it to watch over her shoulders, carefully spreading out her wings as flat as she can, while the two men measure there as well. Her wingspan is almost exactly two cords long, so that doesn't require more marks on the cord. As he's coiling up the paracord, Shane grins up towards Cinnamon's fascinatedly watching head, "Well, guesstimating: you're about twenty five by forty, lovely."

Cinnamon eeees! excitedly, though she's careful to wait until both Thorn and Shane are standing next to her before she rises to her feet again -- but at that point she almost prances delightedly around them! "I'm not a shrimp! I'm gonna be a good-sized dragon -- wheee!" She giggles, leaning her head in to do a light, warm tongue-flicker, one at a time, on the top of both men's heads as she adds, "Thank you both so much, peeps! This is so reassuring to know -- I was a bit worried that being so many generations of human would make me turn out to be a pipsqueak or something... but now I think it's more like hybrid vigor, maybe!" She's still toothily beaming as she neatly nips up the sheet and drops it next to Shane, "Help me out to change too, please?"

Shane laughs, "Acushla, I don't think dragonish genes get very diluted!" He picks up the sheet and then holds it up far enough that it's covering his face so she has plenty of privacy to change.

Cinnamon concentrates carefully -- then squeals delightedly again, "Eee, on the first try, too!" She bounces over to throw her arms exuberantly around first Shane, then Thorn, almost caroling with excitement, "Thank you thank you both so much again this is so cool I'm so glad I finally know eeeee I wonder how big I'll be once I'm all grown up?!" She's almost skipping between the two men as she returns with them to the party, still glowing with excitement!

Thorn grins, "Glad to help!" He's also glad to see Cinnamon so exuberantly happy. Her confidence and pleasure gets so easily deflated sometimes -- he hopes this lasts!

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Last modified: 2019-Jun-12 19:53:32

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