| Logs |
2020 May 08
| Goblin Town |
| Realms |
Retired
| Reality Fault |
General Info
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| Realms: Goblin Town Logs |
A Dreamer of Pictures
Cinnamon glances around as she senses people coming up near her, her eyes widening again -- then she sighs and relaxes a bit. Josie and Shane she trusts. She gives them a shaky smile... then has to quickly fold her arms and tangle her fingers together. She's angry, dammit -- gotta stay angry! She is not going to burst into tears here! Hastily she wracks her brain... then with relief remembers the Atherton tax evasion case. That's a good one to think on! They'd nearly screamed at her that she was a liar, faking the numbers... but she'd kept her head and her boss had backed her up and she'd laid out the data... and she'd been right! Cinnamon takes several deep breaths, her hands unwittingly shaking as she focuses on that past success. Okay... okay, she's okay. She's gonna make it... she is Liam's child, and she told the truth. She's got this... darnit!
A few breaths later Cinnamon has pulled herself together enough to look around and see what people are doing. She really hopes they believe her now! She doesn't want to have to flame people constantly to convince them. After all, even if they're immortals... doesn't that hurt?! She sees Aoi and Jalil are both working over Killa, who is still screaming in his hissing voice. Sparrow is grinning at her as he says, "Much more impressive than starting a little campfire, darlin'." He pats her on the shoulder and laughs before sauntering back toward his chair. It's next to Elias, so he can talk quietly with the vampire. There's still chaos in the galleries: some people are trying to get out, some people are trying to get closer. The bailiff comes back with another five or so people in livery. Somehow, they manage to look less impressive than the round little dragon just now.
Cinnamon blinks as she looks around again... then whispers worriedly to Josie and Shane, "Oh, dear. Is everyone going to be all right?"
Josie puts a hand on her friend's shoulder and snuffles over Cinnamon's head, speaking quietly, "You're fine. You're fine. He deserved it -- and about three more seconds of it and I'd have jumped on him." She looks abashed, "I just wanted to give you a chance to take care of it yourself."
Shane is smirking a little, "Killa will be fine. He'll shed his skin a few times and you won't even see the scars. He really is a god. A small one."
Cinnamon smiles uncertainly at Josie, "Oh! That, uhh... you... er, thank you?" She nods slowly to Shane, her expression worried, "Er... okay? But, um... I mean, I didn't really want to hurt him! Is there... anything I can do to help?"
Shane shakes his head, "We know you didn't. Everyone here saw he was attacking you." He unwittingly echoes Thorn, "He wanted proof, after all."
Cinnamon nervously straightens her slightly wrinkled jacket, adding in a whisper, "They won't, uhh... throw me out for hurting him, will they? I mean... well, it was just all those teeth coming at me!" She shudders again, wrapping her arms around herself.
Hilde has come up in the meantime; she snorts, "They're not going to do a thing. He attacked you! You defended yourself -- using your natural weaponry."
Cinnamon nods slowly to Hilde, her eyes still wide... then she blinks, "Oh! It was you, Hilde -- I remember now. Didn't you tell me the necklace doesn't like hostiles taking it? So..." her nervous gaze drifts around the table until she locates Marcus, and she murmurs puzzledly, "so what did it do to Marcus?"
Hilde giggles a little and lowers her voice, "I think he's less hostile than Killa. Given the way he went pale, I have a suspicion it might have started making him sick. Losing control enough to vomit here would be mortifying to him."
Cinnamon frowns as she thinks carefully... then she shakes her head, "No, wait -- that's wrong. It was Elias!" She sighs wistfully, wishing for a moment that it had indeed been Killa who'd grabbed the necklace. According to Elias, it'd "burn anyone that has it for nefarious purposes" -- and maybe that wouldn't have hurt the anaconda as much as her fire in his face did.
Hilde grins, "Yes, but I think some of us knew what it was." Around the room, bailiffs are calming people. Caradog is scowling on his throne.
Cinnamon nods to Hilde, then glances around and sighs, "Poor revealers. They must know there's no way I'll vote with Killa now." She backs up a step, leaning a bit against Josie's sturdy warmth... it's very reassuring.
Josie wraps her arms around her friend and murmurs, "Want to sit down? I think it's going to calm down now..." Cinnamon nods gratefully to Josie -- she's actually starting to have the trembly after-reactions she usually gets from public speaking! Josie and Shane help Cinnamon get settled into the chair that is undeniably hers after that. Cinnamon settles in the chair and thanks her friends... then asks a bit shakily if she could have a drink of water maybe, please? She hopes it's Josie or Shane who bring it. She's not sure she'd trust many of the others, honestly, at this point in time.
Jalil and Qadan have moved to carry Killa out of the room. Aoi, Nasteexo, and Marcus are speaking quietly and intensely together. Odalric has come back to sit with Athala and Thorn, murmuring with amusement, "That was exciting." Thorn considers things: the revealers could have had an amazing ally in Cinnamon -- a dragon, a blessed dragon! -- but thanks to Killa that's not likely to happen. He nods soberly at Odalric's comment. 'Exciting' seems to sum it up pretty well!
Shane nods and goes to get the water for Cinnamon; Josie is quite obviously standing guard. Hilde perches on the edge of the table near the dragon and looks around the room, catching Thorn's eye and grinning as she gives him a wink before looking back at the shaking Cinnamon -- who will (unless Josie objects) hold her friend's much larger paw-hand. It's oddly reassuring to know the 7' werewolf is right there with her! Frankly, the little humanoid hasn't really come to grips with the reality of what she herself is, yet. Cinnamon smiles uncertainly up at Hilde as she murmurs, "So, um... is Council called off b-b-because I hurt K-killa?"
Athala murmurs to Thorn, "Dearling, I think that that young woman is someone with whom you should make friends."
Thorn can't help but grin a little at Hilde's wink, and taps his chin thoughtfully. He blinks at Athala's suggestion. "I must agree, my Lady. In fact, it seems we have a couple of friends in common already." And common cause too, he realizes. Athala nods, seeming quite pleased with the current turn of events.
Josie smiles and gently squeezes her friend's hand, "I believe that the vote is likely to be tabled. The one about revealing ourselves. You've pretty thoroughly proved there doesn't have to be a vote on the seat."
Cinnamon nods gratefully up at Josie -- she's finding herself rather relieved that it's looking more and more like all she has to do is just sit here today! When Shane returns with the glass of water she gratefully thanks him as well, gulping it down thirstily. When she's done she sighs and rolls her shoulders, trying to make herself relax a bit. "Okay. Okay. I'm here. I made it. I can do this. Er..." Her small smile is nervous but not as shaky as it was a moment ago, "so... what's next?"
It takes some little time for the gallery to be calmed and for Qadan and Jalil to return. They both take their seats silently and the other councillors start moving toward their own seats... except that Josie and Sparrow switch so Josie can sit by Cinnamon for the moment. Shane goes back to his seat as well. Once everyone seems to be back in their seats Caradog says with some irony in his voice, "Well, this has been a lovely meeting." Cinnamon flushes, feeling the back of her neck prickling... she wishes she didn't have to sit with her back to Caradog! No, wait -- she's an adult. She can handle this! She keeps her back straight and her chin up. About that time, someone comes in and speaks quietly to the monarch, who sighs and shakes his head, "Well, it would seem Killa is going to live."
Marcus speaks, sounding obviously tired and a little irritated, "I move we table the vote on revelation."
Sparrow grins and drawls, "Seconded. All for?"
There's a half-second of pause and then hands go up all around the table. It would seem the vote is going to be unanimous. Cinnamon glances around to see how people vote, so she knows how to behave. Hands? Ah, okay. She raises her hand as well. Otherwise she'll just keep her hands clasped in her lap. That way, she knows, they won't visibly tremble. Sparrow thumps the table with the side of his fist, grinning as he imitates a gavel, "I'd say meeting dis-fuckin'-missed. I'm gonna go have a drink." Cinnamon thinks (a little longingly) that a drink sounds absolutely lovely! She'd adore a nice diet Coke right now! Thorn thinks Caradog needs to rein in his disappointment. Still, the human is glad the issue has been tabled for another season. Now he has to find a place to live on the Street, and how to pay for it... and then 'when the time is right' go to Texas....
Athala stands, stretching languidly with a smile, "I think the old coyote has a good idea." She smiles at Thorn, "Join me. I know a lovely little tavern."
Thorn straightens in surprise, even as he stands when his Lady stands, "Thank you, Lady. I would be pleased and glad to."
Cinnamon knows that technically, according to Robert's Rules of Order, dismissing a meeting has to have a motion and second and vote... so despite her longing she remains seated. She's really not sure what else to do. Josie stands up and offers Cinnamon her hand, in case her friend is a little shaky. Elias leans carefully to speak to Jarek, who growls, "Motion to dismiss." There's a rather dry second from Jalil... and again the vote passes unanimously.
Cinnamon sighs in relief as she accepts Josie's big hand-paw, "Thank you so much, Josie, for being here!" She adds in a small voice just to her friend, "Is there... someplace quiet we can go to... to get a drink or a bite to eat, maybe?"
Josie grins and wags, "No need to thank me. We'll go to the Bunch o' Grapes. They've got good food... and it's probably where Sparrow will be."
Cinnamon nods, "Okay. As long as he doesn't grab me again, I'm fine." She blushes as she adds, "I really didn't mean to be rude, you know -- I just didn't realize it was him behind me!" Worriedly she adds, "D-do you suppose... I should apologize to him?" Even though it's a weak joke, Cinnamon tries her best, "Besides, it should be fine, right? I mean, he's a coyote -- not a fox, right?"
Hilde, who is nearby enough to hear the joke, laughs and grins, "Oh, I think he's kinda foxy." She dusts her hands together, "Food. Let's leg it." Cinnamon grins at Hilde, relieved someone found her joke amusing! She nods happily, sticking close to Josie, Hilde, and whomever else she already knows as she patters along with them to the tavern. Hopefully it'll be nice and quiet and there won't be any angry revealers there to glare at her!
The Bunch o' Grapes is actually the little tavern Athala was speaking of, so the two groups of people converge there: Hilde, Josie, Shane, and Cinnamon together. Athala, Odalric (who changed back into trousers and a tunic), and Thorn. Somehow, Sparrow was there before all of them. Cinnamon glances around with some relief -- not too big, not too full! She studies the stranger elves and their human thoughtfully... then whispers to Shane, "I have this vague feeling that I've seen that guy before? Not the tall one who was gonna take Liam's chair -- the short human one. Do you know him?"
Shane looks around to see where Cinnamon is looking and smiles, "I do. Hilde introduced us." Josie is settling at a table with a chair large enough for her and enough seats for the others. It's a rather large table, actually. Hilde also smiles, "Oh! That's Thorn... and Athala and Oldaric." She grins at them and motions the three of them over.
Cinnamon says, "Thorn! That's it -- I remember now! He was with, umm... what was the troll's name again?"
Shane's voice is dry, "Hans." Cinnamon nods to Shane as she settles down at the big table -- next to Josie or Shane, if she can discreetly swing it. Athala, seeing the wave from Hilde, murmurs, "And here, my dear, is your chance." She slides a hand through Thorn's arm and guides him toward the table. Thorn wouldn't need the hint from Athala, but it does help to remind him that he's very likely burning bridges with Marcus -- if they haven't already been put to the torch by Athala's clear amusement at the incident at the meeting. He isn't going to lie, though: Athala putting her arm into his is enough to almost make him forget everything else, including going to the table.
Athala is good at seeming to be escorted when she's actually doing the leading. She smiles at Hilde and says, "Hilde, dear. It has been too long." Hilde, unsurprised Athala wants to be at this particular table, replies, "Athala. What a pleasure." She glances at Cinnamon, brow arched, silently asking if it's OK to invite these three.
Not only is Cinnamon able to swing sitting next to Josie, the werewolf pulls her friend's chair closer to her own. With her friend in it. Cinnamon yeeps slightly at the tug -- but then grins sheepishly at Josie, "Sorry! Sorry, j-just... I guess I'm still a bit jumpy!" She blinks at Hilde uncertainly; she has no idea how to communicate so subtly, unfortunately, so isn't sure what Hilde's (maybe?) asking her. Frankly, she's never had anyone care about her opinion on whether someone joins a table or not!
Thorn comments with a wry, quiet smile, "Understandable, after that meeting. It's good to see you again."
Cinnamon blinks at Thorn -- then smiles, "Hi! Thorn, right? Um... is Hans a friend of yours?" She hopes not -- the troll seemed a bit scary to her!
Thorn winces a little. "Not so much a friend as... 'person who reluctantly brought me here.' I do hope he's doing well, but I don't think we exchanged ten words. Hilde was gracious in actually showing me around the street yesterday."
Hilde, knowing that neither Shane nor Josie would hesitate to evict anyone that gets to be an asshole, says to Athala, "Please have a seat. We're going to have lunch and some drinks." Athala happily takes a seat and finagles it so Thorn is on the side nearest Cinnamon... though the dragon's childe still has Shane on that side, so there's a bit of a buffer. Thorn is starting to wonder why Athala is nudging him to Cinnamon. It has to be more than just getting information from her or getting on the dragon's good side! Either way, Thorn doesn't really need the prodding; he's new to Coblyn Street, too.
Cinnamon nods silently to Thorn, then blinks once at the beautiful Athala, pushing her glasses up before she shyly murmurs, "I'm sorry, ma'am, I... missed your name?" Odalric settles on the other side of Athala. The pair of them are quite well-matched in beauty. Cinnamon blinks at the two lovely people and feels somewhat tongue-tied.
Athala reaches across Thorn and Shane to offer her hand to Cinnamon, "I'm Athala and this is Odalric. We're of the Trod of the Elm." She smiles and says, "Marcus is a cousin."
Cinnamon blinks startledly at the offered hand -- but then remembers her manners and cautiously shakes the lovely elven woman's hand, "P-pleasure to meet you, ma'am..." She blinks, glancing around the table, then whispers to Shane, "W-wasn't there someone else Marcus was related to as well? Like... was it Aisling? Does this mean Aisling and, uhh... Uh-thall-uh," she hopes desperately she pronounced that right! -- "are related too?"
Shane shakes his head and murmurs, "Caradog. Caradog is Aisling's cousin. Athala..." He pronounces the name for Cinnamon, "is a Germanic elf. Aisling and Caradog are sidhe. And Hilde is ljosalfar. We're all elves. But it's like how wolves, dogs, and foxes are all canines."
Cinnamon carefully sounds out the name again, then gives Shane an anxious look, "Did I get it right that time?" Worriedly she adds, "I hope nobody's insulted when I get their names wrong.... I don't mean to, but they're all so... so different! I mean, I love watching and learning about it all, but actually talking to people?!" She sighs gustily, "I j-just don't want a repeat of what happened with p-poor Killa, you know?" Cinnamon thinks for a moment, then nods slowly, "So... Caradog, you, Aisling -- all British, right? But Athala and, er, Oh-ohd... er, her male companion are... German? But... Hilde's, er... Scandinavian? Is that right?"
Athala smiles, "It's fine -- Cinnamon, is it? New names are often difficult. Odalric has to deal with it constantly." Odalric gives Cinnamon a rather impish and playful smile, "I'll just have to speak with you more so you don't forget how to pronounce it."
Cinnamon blushes hotly as Athala overhears her, "Oh! Oh, I'm s-so sorry, ma'am! I -- I d-don't mean to be rude!" Then she blinks confusedly at Odalric, "Wait, you... why do you have to deal with it more? I mean, aren't both your names kind of, um... well, er, unusual?" She blinks interestedly at a sudden thought, "Oh! Wait, what, er... does everyone's names here mean something? That'd be cool!" She beams as she adds, "That's why I chose Cinnamon, in fact!"
Hilde nods as Cinnamon lines out the different types of elves, "Generally Nordic. My parents actually live in Norway." Athala smiles, "Oh, everyone's name means something. We choose them for that purpose, of course." She looks around the table, "Is anyone here going by the name their parents gave them?" Thorn finds Cinnamon's mood infectious, and it's not only a relief to find she's not let being a dragon get to her head, but also comes off as 'just' another human. Maybe he was just overwhelmed with all the unusualness of the past couple of days.
Once everyone is settled, a barmaid comes over to take orders. Their food menu is essentially: 'We have stew today.' The drink menu is much more diverse. Shane gets an ale. Hilde gets mead. Josie asks for milk. Both Athala and Odalric order dark beers. Thorn has never been much of a drinker; besides, he sees himself as 'on duty' here in Coblyn, especially with his Lady present. He'll ask for milk as well. The barmaid doesn't even blink at grown people ordering milk in a tavern. Indeed, she seems to have a smile for everyone. Cinnamon listens to everyone's drink orders, then uncertainly asks if they have diet Coke? The barmaid smiles at Cinnamon, "We have birch beer. Will that work? It's got sugar in, though."
Cinnamon blinks at that, pushing her glasses back into place as she considers. She doesn't know what it is, but... well, she's surely wealthy enough now to be able to afford to test a new drink? Cautiously she replies, "I, um, don't know what that is, but I'll try it... if it's not alcoholic, please?"
Thorn provides, trying to be helpful, "It's similar to root beer."
Cinnamon says, "Really? Uh, well, then... may I try one, please?" She smiles at Thorn after the barmaid heads off, "Thank you. I'm afraid a lot of the food here is really new to me."
Thorn says, "You're welcome! I'm sure a lot of it will be new to me as well."
Cinnamon glances around the table full of people as she shyly adds, "Thank you all so much too for your support. I -- I didn't mean to freeze up there, at the meeting, but..." she looks down sheepishly, muttering, "well, regardless. Thank you all."
Hilde smiles, "I'd have frozen if Killa grabbed me. He's stronger than he looks. And I suspect that both Josie and Shane were about a heartbeat away from jumping in." The barmaid has moved off after telling Cinnamon she'll definitely bring her a birch beer. Josie leans in to murmur, "It's like root beer."
Cinnamon nods to Josie, smiling... then tilts her head at the others, "So... Sparrow, what did you mean regarding Killa not being the biggest reptile? I take it that means I'll be larger in dragon form than he is in anaconda form?"
Sparrow is leaning back in his chair, taking the front legs off the ground, "If you're anywhere near the size of Liam, you'll have a good ten feet on him."
Cinnamon nods slowly as she listens... then smiles wryly as she shakes her head, "Haven't a clue, currently, actually. Guess I'll find out later." She sighs softly as she remembers something else from the Council chambers, "All those folks in the audience who were trying to flee the room... were they afraid I'd eat them or something?" Cinnamon wonders if Caradog had a moment of nervousness too. Oddly that thought doesn't really bother her! He's tough -- he can take it. She feels a little bad for potentially scaring some of the smaller and weaker folk, though.
Thorn murmurs, "I think they were more afraid of being scorched by dragonfire, and weren't expecting it. Plus I think Killa's... actions... had disturbed them and put them on edge already."
Cinnamon nods slowly and consideringly at that... then sighs, "I guess I should apologize publicly, then?"
Thorn blinks. "I would say not before him. He assaulted you -- he disrupted the meeting beyond the pale. He needs to apologize first. Or at least be given the chance to apologize first."
Cinnamon smiles ruefully at Thorn as she pushes her glasses back into place, "Oh, I don't mean apologize to Killa. I mean apologize to all the regular folks that I scared, you know? They didn't do anything mean to me, after all."
Athala laughs, a warm and musical sound, "If anything, he should apologize to you! He assaulted you. You simply used your natural defenses to protect yourself." Sparrow smiles serenely, "Honestly, I think Killa oughta apologize. He poked you. You poked back. If he hadn't started shit, you'd not have fricassed his pompous ass."
Cinnamon blinks thoughtfully as she looks around the table. What an interesting development! This might explain somewhat why humans are so generally looked down on, maybe... if even the suggestion of apologizing to the regular, non-god-like folks is sort of... brushed off or pretty much ignored? She curiously asks, "Is Killa the type to apologize when he's done wrong? Or is he one of those 'jealous god' types?"
Shane sighs, "No. No, he's not. He is a very jealous little godling." Hilde chimes in, "I think an apology, while the situation was not your fault, would set you firmly on the side of wanting to do the right thing."
Cinnamon smiles shyly at Hilde, "I'd like to do right?"
Thorn says, "I don't know him, but he doesn't strike me as the apologetic type. However, his... compatriots may strongly suggest that he apologize."
Cinnamon turns to Shane as she adds curiously, "So aside from turning into a big mucking snake... does Killa do anything for his worshippers?"
Athala is lazily petting the back of Thorn's neck as they wait for their drinks. "Mmm. If Marcus doesn't strongly suggest it, I suspect Aoi will. Asian cultures tend to be very firm about etiquette. Grabbing someone and screaming at them is terribly gauche."
Cinnamon looks faintly relieved at that! She'd been hoping that her personal sense of right and wrong wouldn't be too far off the mark here. That an ancient elf believes Killa's behavior was 'gauche' is reassuring to hear. Shane mmms, "The big mucking snake can bring them food when they're starving. He also used to protect them from hostile tribes."
Cinnamon thinks about Shane's words... then curiously asks, "Why did he leave his tribes, then?"
Josie says, "He was the one chosen to come here and represent the gods and spirits of most of South and Central America. If you ask him, he's also representing Mexico." Sparrow drawls, "An' if you ask me, I say he's overstepping his bounds more'n a little."
Cinnamon nods slowly, thinking again. Her voice is considering as she murmurs, "I wonder... if part of why he's so grumpy is... that he misses his home and his people?"
The barmaid comes back with everyone's drinks, balancing them effortlessly on a large tray. She doesn't even have to ask who ordered what. Cinnamon thanks the barmaid, then takes a cautious sip of her drink... then blinks in surprise, "Oh! Oh, this is really nice -- thank you!" Once she's got everyone's glasses and mugs and such handed out, the barmaid grins and sweeps off to take other orders.
Hilde sighs, "I think he's grumpy because there aren't a lot of his tribes left. He's had to make his way on his own."
Cinnamon feels oddly sorry for the lost little god, but murmurs only, "Oh... p-poor man..."
Thorn is not quite purring, but he relaxes visibly into the slight petting. He realizes it may look odd, but he'd be surprised if people haven't already been talking behind his back about what he is perceived as. He also wonders, for what will not be the last time, how the barmaid could be so dextrous, agile, and have an eidetic memory for who ordered what.
Sparrow's voice, for once, is gentle, "Don't feel too sorry for him, darlin'. Part of the reason he's got so few people left is he demanded sacrifices for his protection."
Cinnamon blinks interestedly at Sparrow, "Oh, like... like their cattle or something?" In many ways she's still quite the innocent.
Sparrow arches a brow, "No. Like their children." Athala is listening to this, taking in Cinnamon's naivete and the protective body language of her new friends. The elf smiles at Thorn's relaxation and leans over to speak close to his ear, "You've done a very good job here."
Cinnamon clutches her cold mug of birch beer tightly with both hands, a shocked expression on her face and her jaw dropped. All she can get out is a small, "...oh, no!" A few seconds later she swallows hard, then says with shaky determination, "Well, that -- I j-just -- er, I mean, th-that is... just not right! I'm not going to vote anything that lets him -- lets him predate on innocent people that way... b-because that's not the way a god should act! That -- th-that's how a bully behaves!"
Cinnamon feels almost tearful for a moment. This has been a shocking and over-exciting new day for her. The idea of people actually having their children stolen away like that... to be eaten by a monster! -- it's a bit much right now. She blinks rapidly several times, staring down at her drink... then has a big gulp of it to pull her head together again. She swallows hard, relieved it's not alcoholic -- she'd be hacking and coughing madly by now, she knows, if it was! A bit hoarsely she adds, "S-sorry about that. I, uh... sorry."
Thorn really can't blame Cinnamon for her reaction. His stomach fell out from under him when Sparrow mentioned Killa took sacrifices. He smiles to Athala, murmuring, "Thank you, Lady." Looking back at the table, he admits he's comfortable here with these people. Their goals align, and he doesn't want to see any of them hurt. Why not? Friendships have started under odder circumstances. He shakes his head. "I nearly had the same reaction," he says at Cinnamon's apology.
Josie whimpers in the manner of a distressed pup at seeing her friend so upset. She tugs Cinnamon's chair a little bit closer and puts one powerful arm around the crying dragon. Shane sighs and nods, "Exactly. He's still the strongest of his kind left. The fact that you were able to hurt him at all is remarkable." Odalric puts his elbows on the table and leans in, smiling at Cinnamon. It's not a kind smile, exactly, but it does seem friendly.
Cinnamon leans against Josie, smiling through her tears, "Oh, d-don't be sad because of me, Josie!" She throws Thorn a relieved smile also... though Odalric's smile makes her blink uncertainly. She's had a lot of experience, unfortunately, with those who pretend friendship.
Sparrow sips at his drink a bit and says, "See, part of the reason I think we need t' stay unnerground is that people got this fear of old gods. Git called demons now, y'dig? Killa's pretty much functionally immortal. You near took his face off... and he'll be back good as new in two weeks, tops. But the rest of us..." he motions around the table, "the common run of supernatural folk? We can be killt. Might be harder than normal, but it can happen."
Josie nods solemnly, "Sparrow's right on that. And the ways to do it? Pretty common knowledge now. Elias is one that'd be really vulnerable."
Cinnamon nods to that, her voice almost a whisper, "I... I was kinda thinking the same thing, actually. Plus..." she shudders, but makes herself continue, "p-plus... people learn! Even if they didn't get Killa the f-first time? ...they... they'd keep trying... and eventually they'd figure it out. And out of fear of what he represents? ...everyone else would suffer. People would be too afraid to check and talk and listen first, you know?"
Hilde sighs, "Exactly. And once one of us is painted as a monster..."
Odalric's voice is warm and almost musical, "Then all of us are. The harmless and harmful alike." Thorn is acutely aware that he's about as easy to kill as any other human. He might have a few tricks to drag it out some, but in short order the result would be the same. He considers Elias's situation ironic -- Elias is one of the most powerful supernaturals in the world, but the ways to kill vampires are ridiculously well-known.
Cinnamon nods strongly to that! She has another gulp of her birch beer... then peers curiously at the two beautiful elves, "He's your cousin. How well do you know him? Why does he believe -- er, Marcus, I mean? -- why is he so... so unaware of the likely reactions of humans to us?" Then she blinks as her statement registers. When did that happen -- when did the supernaturals become 'us' to her? She blinks thoughtfully as she stares into her drink... then realizes: it was Josie... and Shane. It was the sweet hulda who sold the house to her-Cinnamon... and the nice apple seller who knew what kinds of apples Josie liked best. It was Elias taking the time to be kind even when she was mistrustful of him. It was the kind, friendly, thoughtful people she kept meeting. Cinnamon gets a small, soft smile at that thought.
Athala nods, "Our trods are mostly safe. It's very difficult to even see them, much less invade them... but people with the right eyes or the right heart can do it." She smiles at Thorn when she says that, causing him to blush a little. At Cinnamon's question the elf adds, "Because he's young. Very young. In many ways. He champs at the bit of having his wonderfulness hidden under the metaphorical basket. Marcus didn't live long in the trod. His parents brought him here when he was perhaps fifteen. Life in the city and on Coblyn is more what he's used to."
Cinnamon blinks, her head jerking up to listen to Athala... then she pushes her glasses back and nods sagely, "Oh, got it. Yeah, I know people like that -- people who're sure the world revolves around them." She's thinking of her immediate family... and wondering how they'd cope with here. Then she remembers how Shane handled them all so easily; that makes her grin in shy happiness!
Shane says dryly, "I think that Marcus would get on famously with Candi." There's a general exchange of 'who?' glances from most people at the table, but Josie grins. She got the story from Cinnamon when the dragon returned from getting her things.
Cinnamon giggles at that, blushing slightly... though honesty compels her to reply, "Well... at least until they both realized the other wasn't going to slavishly follow their every desire!" She hastily changes the subject when she adds, "So, uhh... now what? I mean, like... will the Council meet here again? Or in Europe, or... where? Er, and when, please?"
Sparrow's grin widens, "Oh, next meeting's in my territory. Near the rez. And th' elder there is all for staying hidden."
Cinnamon nods confusedly, "So... no meeting here then, despite what happened?" Thorn perks a bit. Sparrow's territory -- Texas. Well, that wasn't hard at all to guess, actually. Then Cinnamon blinks at a sudden thought, then throws a guilty glance at Odalric, "I, um... I'm sorry you didn't get to join the Council, sir, if th-that's what you really wanted." Thorn thinks that this actually went even better than planned; Odalric doesn't strike him as the council-type. The positioning of the elves and the human with them finally register with Cinnamon, and she studies them curiously, wondering if the elves are brother and sister.
Odalric laughs and waves that off, "I am not Council material. It would mean traveling too far from home far too often." Cinnamon nods slowly as she considers that... then gives the beautiful elf man a small, relieved smile.
From there, conversation wanes and people start to take their leave. Sparrow does so with a grin and a wink to Cinnamon -- and seems to be doing so in order to go flirt with the barmaid. Hilde is next to take her leave. Athala and Odalric (along with Thorn) linger, but it's Josie that's the last. Once everyone else is gone, she suggests that having a sleepover at Cinnamon's house would be nice. Athala suggests that Thorn and Odalric should come with her back to Marcus' house. Thorn knows that it's time to face the music with Marcus. The sidhe must not be very happy with how things turned out today. He wonders if there's anyone he can rent an apartment from. For that matter, if he's going to be living here, he'll need a job, which he's fine with. He's not felt more alive outside the trod than he has here on Coblyn Street.
Cinnamon beams as she remembers her strawberry preserves -- she can offer some lovely tea and scones to Josie and Shane! Right now they're both her favorite and only house guests so far. She makes a few mental notes: she's got to check around for possible jobs as well. Or alternatively... hmm. Could she work remotely, maybe, for her current job? That'd be awesome, if so!
Athala puts her hand through Thorn's elbow and smiles serenely at him, "We don't have to stay with Marcus, you know. There are inns and so forth. But you can stay with me if you don't feel safe there."
Thorn smiles shyly to Athala, "I don't think I feel unsafe with Marcus just yet. But I think he might have... um, issues with the company I'll be keeping."
Athala laughs her musical laugh and says, "Oh, we'll just tell him that you're going to be doing so to infiltrate!"
Thorn blinks. "Well, it's audacious, and I doubt he'll suspect me of all people of that sort of second-order duplicity."
Athala's eyes are twinkling, "No. He won't. Which is why it will work!" Thorn thinks this appeals to his Lady's sense of mischief, so who is he to argue otherwise?
Shane and Josie are both happy to go with Cinnamon. Without speaking about it, they move to flank her. Cinnamon curiously watches the behavior between the elf and the human -- she's never seen that kind of relationship before, so it's puzzling to her. However, when Shane and Josie are ready to go, Cinnamon hops up happily and patters out with them, cheerfully chattering with them about teas -- how do you tell a good one? Do they have favorites? Who sells them here on the street? It's Shane that says he's got some good tea if they can stop by his place on the way. He's walking casually, hand resting lightly on the hilt of his sword, but it seems like it's more a way to keep the sword from getting in the way.
Cinnamon happily agrees to Shane's suggestion -- she's curious about what his place looks like! As they're walking along she considers carefully for a while... then finally hesitantly asks, "So... Athala and Odalric... are they siblings?"
Shane's place turns out to be a loft apartment atop a haberdashery. It's mostly one room and it's made up with almost military neatness. Cinnamon looks around in fascination... and realizes she's unsurprised, actually! Shane seems like that neatnic sort. She herself is nowhere near that precise with things like clothing. Math, on the other hand -- that she does approach with a sort of fierce, almost military determination! It's part of why she loves it so much, in fact: it responds so well to that approach! Fashionable or stylish clothing, on the other hand, has always been a bit of a mystery to her.
Cinnamon grins with some sympathy at Josie, "Being so big seemed so nice to me the first time I realized how polite everyone was to you! But... I can see there must be times it's a bother too." She looks up at the low-ish ceiling -- for a 7' werewolf, at least -- and sounds pleased as she adds, "I'm glad I figured it out, though, so I can have a nice place for you to lounge in my little house... as well as a change of clothes for you if you decide you want to change shape!"
Josie takes a seat in a corner and grins, "I don't mind. Like I've said before, if it's too uncomfortable, I'll be a human for it!" Shane grins at Cinnamon's question, which he put off answering until they were in his place, "No. They're not siblings. It's like they say old married couples start to look alike. But they aren't married. They've lovers and co-conspirators. What one has, the other does as well. So Thorn... sorta belongs to both of them, but his bond is with Athala."
Cinnamon blinks perplexedly at Shane, pushing her glasses into place, "Belongs?"
Shane is looking through some cabinets and getting out some small chests and tins. He doesn't turn around as he speaks, "He's bound to her. Some elves can do that. Sort of lend part of their power to a human in exchange for loyalty and favors."
Cinnamon thinks about that for a moment... then says slowly, "He... loves her, I think." She pauses, tilting her head as she mentally reviews... then adds even more slowly, "I... am not sure she loves him, though. She seems almost more... um, amused? Entertained? -by him?" She looks at Josie and Shane, adding uncertainly, "I, um... er, I mean, does that -- uh, h-how does it look to you?"
Josie shrugs a little, "Some people say elves can't love. No soul and all that. And some of the old ones have a really weird affect. They seem really detached..." She looks at Shane, ears a little pink as she says that 'no soul' thing. Shane has put the tins and boxes of tea into a rucksack and goes to a wooden chest that's situated like a footlocker at the end of his bed, "And I'll tell you flat out that elves can fall in love."
Cinnamon glances between her friends, then shyly offers, "Maybe... maybe it's the younger ones who can really love?"
Shane puts something from the footlocker into the rucksack. Maybe clothes? He smiles a little crookedly, "No. Not just the young ones. Quinn and my mom are madly in love. Serious fairytale in love. Even though they haven't seen one another in a couple of decades. And Quinn is several centuries old -- at least." The half-beansidhe stands up, slings the rucksack over his shoulder and says, "Let's roll, ladies."
Cinnamon thinks about that for a long moment... then thoughtfully tries again, "Could it be... that maybe it's the elves who never get out? Never spend time around humans, say? Maybe they're the ones that either forget or never learn how to love?" She adds with almost diffident shyness, "After all, I, um... well... I have trouble seeing Marcus loving anyone but himself? At least right now?"
Shane shrugs and says, "I'm not sure. I think the bit about the soul might be a little twisted. Like... maybe their souls are just different than humans'." Josie snorts, "Marcus would be like that if he were human." Cinnamon grins shyly at Josie as she follows Shane out.
Athala, Odalric, and Thorn are met at the ambassadorial residence's door by Marcus' butler, who shows them in and takes them all back to the almost-trod-like solarium. Marcus is there, along with Jalil. They're sitting together and speaking quietly. Jalil's sunglasses have been removed. Thorn remains quiet as he stands with Athala and Odalric. He's curious about Jalil's eyes, since he hasn't seen them before. But mostly he wants to be, for the moment, invisible to Marcus. Then again, he's curious how the sidhe is taking this turn of events.
The djinn's eyes are difficult to look at. Shane told Cinnamon that they were holes with embers in them, but that fails to describe them. The actual boundaries of his eyes are hard to define and seem to shift slowly but constantly. They look more like sockets with nebulous edges. Nestled into the darkness of them is fire. Sometimes it looks like embers or coals, sometimes it looks like microminiaturized suns, other times it looks like the leaping flames of a campfire. Thorn suppresses a small shiver. The eyes are far more disturbing than 'holes with embers in them.'
Marcus stands when his cousin and her small entourage arrive. He's still perfectly coiffed, but he's loosened his tie and his face is set into unhappy lines, "I'm glad you could join us. I thought perhaps you'd decided to leave after Oldaric's bid for the seat was thwarted." Jalil doesn't stand and doesn't speak. He just watches. Athala laughs and shakes her head, "Oh, nothing like that. We stopped for a drink at the Bunch o' Grapes. You know I like their wine." Thorn, not for the first time, wonders how much of the somewhat flighty persona Athala sometimes demonstrates is real or an affectation. Because if she's doing this on purpose, she's very, very good at it.
Marcus nods and motions to the seats around the low table, "I remember. I had Butler buy a couple of bottles, in fact. Please, join us."
Thorn of course lets Athala and Odalric sit first, before finding a seat beside (and preferably a little behind) theirs. Athala and Odalric sit and, without actually saying anything about it, manage to arrange it so that Thorn sits between the two of them. He can move the chair slightly so that he's a bit back from them, but if he tries to get out of easy reach, Athala puts a hand on his knee to stop him. "That's very thoughtful of you!" She laughs cheerfully as Butler pours a glass for each of the three newcomers, "Well... a dragon that looks like a librarian. That was unexpected." Thorn knows better than to move away, so he stays right where he's maneuvered. He accepts the glass from Butler, and nods soberly at Athala's observation.
Jalil snorts and rolls his eyes. It's... disturbing to say the least. When he speaks, he has an obviously Middle Eastern accent, but his English is excellent, "It was more than unexpected. It should have been impossible. People researched Liam's line. No one found any record of this."
Odalric's warm voice is, like Athala's, tinged around the edge with a Teutonic accent, "Well, dragons are said to be wily. It would seem the reputation is deserved!" Thorn's own suspicions are that Liam had done all he could to keep Cinnamon hidden because he knew he was becoming a target. How long has the 'reveal' plan been brewing?
Athala mms and sips her wine with a quiet chuckle, "Or maybe he didn't know about her until just lately. It wouldn't be the first time a father found out about a bastard -- however many generations removed -- long after the child was an adult." Her cool, slender fingers are gently stroking and petting Thorn's knee.
Odalric's smile flashes, impishness showing clearly, "We have a plan, though!" Athala laughs and nods, blue eyes twinkling, "We're going to have Thorn stay! She obviously needs and wants friends. I believe our sweet man could do that... and it would be good to have an extra set of ears, yes?" Thorn keeps himself from flopping over in pleasure at the gently petting. Jalil in the room helps that a lot, actually. He remains quiet, because he hasn't been addressed directly yet- [aaaand there we go.] He tries to look both competent and capable of the task, without looking smug about it nor showing any misgivings.
Marcus and Jalil both thoughtfully turn their regard on Thorn. Or at least Marcus is thoughtful. It's difficult to read Jalil. He has a glass of something clear in his hand that he's sipping from. It's Marcus that finally speaks, "We'll need to find him lodgings and a job, I think. Having him stay here will do him no favors if he wants to make friends with the others. Except perhaps Hilde -- the two of them seemed to get along quite well." There's an unmistakable hint of a barb there. But is it aimed at Thorn or Athala?
Thorn is also a little nervous internally. He hopes that his Lady has been honest with him, about this being a ruse -- even if it's just for her amusement at Marcus et al.'s expense, Thorn is... uncomfortable with deceiving Cinnamon and her friends. This is one of the first places outside the trod where he's felt mostly at home. If he is used to deceive them -- and in his experience all such deceptions, no matter if crafted by mortal or fey hands, come out eventually -- then that will be a bridge he'll never be able to un-burn. Instead Thorn nods once to Marcus, as if understanding the sidhe's meaning clearly and sir, yes sir, he will not mess this up.
Athala, with her apparent natural talent for making people feel relaxed, manages to turn the conversation toward social rather than political matters. She asks after acquaintances and manages to lighten the mood by several degrees. After there have been a couple of glasses of wine, she stands and smiles around, "I believe it's time we retire. Thorn? Odalric?"
Thorn inclines his head. "As it pleases you, Lady."
Marcus stands and, after a heartbeat, so does Jalil. They both wish Athala and the two men a good night. Athala waits until they're in her chambers to laugh and stroke the side of Thorn's face, "You did so well! And now you'll be unmolested as you go about your life here. He's right, though -- you will need a place and you will need a job. But the best way to find out such things and seem like you need help is through Cinnamon and her friends."
Thorn lets out a breath, relaxing visibly into the touch. "Thank you, Lady," he says quietly. "I was... unsettled by Jalil. How... how old is he?"
Odalric chuckles, "Almost anyone that hasn't spent large amounts of time with him is unsettled by Jalil." Athala motions for Thorn to sit with her on the side of her bed, "He's very, very old. He was old when Christ was supposedly born."
Thorn blinks even as he sits. "That...? Oh my. Isn't that even older than Killa?" He wonders why Jalil's name didn't come up as one of the possible assassins of Liam. And he hopes that Cinnamon doesn't have to find out how effective her dragonsfire is on a djinn!
Athala mmms, "Most of the people wanting to come out of hiding are quite old. On the side wanting to counsel caution, well, Aisling, Elias, and Jarek are old. Hilde, Sparrow, and Josie were all born in the last century. And this Cinnamon... she doesn't seem like she's even out of her thirties."
Odalric mms and nods, "Yes. Quite a bit older than Killa. Just as Aoi is ancient."
Athala sighs and nods, "Liam was likewise ancient. He was in the British Isles before anyone outside the west coast of Europe thought they might be a good territory to hold." Thorn shivers. That's unbelievably ancient. It predates the Roman Empire by at least a thousand years if not more. Athala mms and nods, "So, you see, with four out of seven of the side counseling caution being less than two centuries old... and with three of them being less than fifty years old... they are a bit outclassed. But I think they are not quite so outclassed as my dear cousin thinks they are." She sighs and yawns, stretching languidly, "I need sleep. Travel exhausts me for days."
Thorn nods thoughtfully. [And fuels Marcus's and his collaborators' egoes something fierce, I imagine,] he thinks. He nods. "Of course, Lady."
Athala, like the night before, asks Thorn if he wants to return to his room while making it clear she'd rather he stay. She's good at saying what she wants without actually saying what she wants. "Odalric and I will be leaving tomorrow. We did not expect it to go so smoothly. I'm going to suggest to Marcus that you should approach either Hilde or Cinnamon on your own. It would be wisest."
That night, after Athala falls asleep, Thorn's -- Martin's -- thoughts turn in much the same direction as Cinnamon's questions the night before, as it happens. Does he love Athala? He would have to say yes; he's thoroughly devoted to her. But... he also knows she doesn't return the emotion. At least not in any human way. He thought he was all right with this, and in general he is. But spending time with others, as opposed to his quiet, relatively solitary existence, underlined that fact -- that she doesn't reciprocate. Again, he understands; he accepts it. But it's fortunate that he recognized how rather in dire need of human (and other!) contact he had become when at the same time he found a place he could call home.
As sometimes happens when Thorn spends time with Athala, his memories the next morning are a bit hazy. Breakfast is tasty, but conversation is sparse. Athala tells Marcus what she said she was going to and assures her cousin that Thorn will check in if there's anything Marcus needs to know. After that Athala and Odalric gather their things and depart, taking Thorn with them as far as the entrance to the street. "Send Erin if you need us, my sweet man. Hilde should be at home this time of day. She seems to like you, so she should be a good starting point for making friends."
Thorn smiles, bowing over Athala's hand, "I will. Thank you, Lady. I will not let you down." Athala kisses Thorn on the forehead and hands over a small pouch full of gold to use as his getting-started stake... and the two elves take their leave. As they depart, Thorn puzzles over the pouch of gold. [Starbucks is not going to have change for these,] he thinks. [I'll have to ask Hilde.] Well, no time like the present. He lets Marcus know that he is going forth as planned, and promises to inform the elf if he-Thorn learns of anything pertinent, or even if he only guesses it's something that might be pertinent. He's lying through his teeth, of course. He'll have to inform Marcus of something now and then to allay any of the sidhe's suspicions. And, again, someday the deception will be revealed; he'll have to prepare for that and Marcus's inevitable wrath.
Hilde is, as Athala predicted, at home. She answers the door wearing sleep-shorts and a t-shirt that's at least four sizes too big for her, but she's smiling, "Thorn! I didn't expect to see you so soon. C'm'in. I'm going to go visit Cinnamon today. She had a stressful day."
"I can imagine," he says as he enters, "and thank you!" He wonders how much to tell her. "Athala's asked me to stay in Coblyn Street for the time being, at least until the next council meeting." Even as he says it, he can't help but sound happy at the prospect. "The only two issues are a place to live and a job to pull my weight. Hilde, this is one of the few places outside the trod-" wow, he's been saying that a lot lately, "where I've felt... comfortable. More at home. Sometimes I've even been able to see color! I'd like to stay if I can, and I want to... I guess 'contribute' is the right word."
Hilde stretches and smiles. At the end of the stretch she starts putting her pale hair into a ponytail. She's nodding as she listens, "Well, we can do that. Do you have anything to put a down payment on a place with? Or to pay someone if they take you on as a roomie?" She motions at him to sit and heads into her bedroom. For a councillor with world-wide impact, she lives frugally. The apartment looks very much like a modern college student might have. The bedroom opens off the living room, so she can leave the door ajar and still talk.
Thorn sits so that he can't accidentally look into the bedroom. "She did give me some, uh... gold. I don't think that's legal tender here. Is there an exchequer or exchange?"
Hilde laughs, "It is legal tender here on Coblyn. There's the bank, which is sort of a bank and a bureau de change and all-round money center. We'll visit after I check on Cinnamon." When she returns, she's wearing a brightly colored (color even Thorn can see!) sundress in cheerful reds and yellows. She's got on a pair of strappy sandals with short heels. "You ready?"
Thorn blinks at her dress. He's sure it's probably capable of searing retinas at fifty paces, but that it's so... feywild that the colors can be seen even by him...! He shakes himself. "All set! Thank you, Hilde. I really appreciate it."
Hilde grins and takes Thorn's hand to tug him along, "Awesome. She lives by the bakery, so there's probably going to be something yummy to eat..."
Earlier, once Josie, Shane, and Cinnamon had gotten back to the dragon's little cottage, the werewolf and the half-beansidhe had very subtly double-checked the things such as salt across the openings into the house, before settling in for tea and conversation. Josie is excited that her friend has taken her rightful place. Shane is not quite as talkative, but he does seem relaxed and comfortable. When Cinnamon later climbs the ladder to her loft for sleep, Josie and Shane dispose themselves in defensive positions. Josie sleeps across the doorway. Shane sleeps at the bottom of the narrow ladder/stairs to the loft.
The next morning, Cinnamon wakens to the smell of bacon and fresh bread. The tea, scones, cream, and the fantastic strawberry jam are enjoyed all 'round. Shane, especially, is fond of the scones. He tells the women that he got used to having them when he was first getting to know Quinn and Aisling. Cinnamon looks intrigued, "Those are the people in your trod, right? Did they make especially good scones or something?"
Shane nods, "Quinn's me da'. And you know Aisling. I just got very used to them. The trod is in the British Isles. They eat a bit differently over there."
Cinnamon grins excitedly when she realizes: she's going to get to see all kinds of different places! "There's a council meeting in Europe, isn't there? Or... probably more than one! Where are they all?"
Elsewhere, Hilde leads Thorn down the street and they smell the bakery blocks before they get to it. The ljosalfar pops into the bakery and returns with a small basket full of blueberry muffins. Next door to the bakery is a little cottage that looks like it could have come straight out of any German fairy tale. Hilde knocks on the door and calls out cheerfully, "I brought muffins! Can we come in?" Thorn blinks at the cottage. He looks around the street. It's a street, eclectic in architecture but still a city street. He looks back at the cottage. It's a cottage, the kind you might see in paintings of the Swiss Alps. Incongruous, but then again, no more than anything else on the street!
Cinnamon looks up at the knock, then glances at the other two, who have better hearing than she, "Who is it?"
Josie cocks her head and grins, "It's Hilde." The werewolf had changed to her human form first thing in the morning so she could help with breakfast without knocking her head on anything. Shane arches a brow, "She said 'we.'" He stands and says, "I'll answer it." Thus the door opens onto a beansidhe in sleep pants and a blousy sort of pirate shirt looking Very Serious. Beansidhe do Very Serious quite well. Hilde is unfazed by this and smiles cheerfully, "I brought food and a friend. Well, hopefully a friend. I think he wants to be a friend. Can we come in?" Thorn is properly intimidated by Shane, pirate shirt or not. He gives a small wave from behind Hilde, and wonders if anything happened; Shane doesn't seem at all pleased to see them.
Cinnamon calls curiously, "Who is it?"
Shane isn't broad, but he's doing a pretty decent imitation of a wall as he looks over his shoulder and says, "Hilde and Thorn." Thorn then mentally clocks himself in the head. What has he been thinking of for the past several days? Who killed Liam. And whomever killed Liam will have no qualms about going after Cinnamon. [Idiot, I should have thought of that already.] Hilde seems not a bit worried and is smiling as she waits to see if Cinnamon will let them in.
Cinnamon blinks, "Oh!" She goes silent for a moment, looking around herself at her cozy little home. This is her place. No one has come in here except her friends, by her express invitation. She'd invite Hilde in, in a heartbeat... but she doesn't know Thorn. Plus... he's apparently dependent on those lovely but creepy elves -- the ones that are cousins to Marcus... and she's... the new kid in town. She sighs. All her instincts are nudging her to not show her true self to someone who belongs to the 'reveal' faction. Plus there's the murder of Liam -- she still doesn't have any news on that. She looks unhappily at Josie -- then blinks. Wait. This is her home -- and she's a dragon! She doesn't have to let anyone in if she doesn't want to! She takes a deep breath, lifts her chin a bit, and says in a fairly steady voice, "Oh, h-how nice -- I w-was just thinking it was time to, er, to... go out and start the day!" She scrambles to her feet, smiling a bit nervously at Josie, "Josie, Shane, w-would you like to come along?"
Josie and Shane both nod. Hilde seems cheerfully unfazed by this, "Oh! Well, we can go down to the little pocket park and have muffins." She looks at Thorn and says, "You promise you mean no harm to anyone?" As she asks this, Shane watches Thorn. Thorn's seen this before from the self-appointed protector of Coblyn.
Cinnamon darts hastily over to her new armoire, grabbing some clothes without really looking at them, starting to hastily shrug into them. She smiles ruefully to herself as she barely hears the question -- that's not going to work! She's seen stuff like that in her day job: the accountant swears truthfully that he or she has given all the relevant data to her boss... and then later finds out they themselves were lied to. Cinnamon doesn't say anything, though -- she just yanks on shirt, socks, and jeans, twists up her hair and skewers a pencil through it, then hastily ties her sneakers.
Shane listens, anyway. Besides, it gives Cinnamon time to get herself together. Josie murmurs to the young dragon, "Take your time. Shane won't let them in if you don't want them in here." Thorn nods soberly to Hilde, though he's almost addressing Shane, "I promise I mean no harm to anyone. Either on Coblyn Street or beyond it." It's true; he doesn't mean harm even to Marcus. Not that he could harm Marcus.
Cinnamon glances in relief at Josie, whispering, "Oh... thank you both!" After that she takes a moment to clean up their nibbles, then grabs her purse, whispering to Josie, "I hope Hilde isn't offended! Er... should we give Shane some dressing time by chatting with them just outside?"
Shane nods and says, "I believe you, but I think Hilde's got a good idea. Muffins in the park." Josie murmurs to Cinnamon, "She's not easily offended. C'mon. I'll meet you outside."
The person that comes out the door isn't the seven-foot-tall werewolf Thorn saw yesterday. Instead, she's medium height and built stockily in the way of people that are quite muscular but not ripped. She's got the skintone of Native Americans and glossy black hair. Cinnamon slips out behind Josie, nodding quietly to Thorn, then smiling shyly at Hilde, "Good morning!" Thorn nods in return to Cinnamon. Hilde smiles and puts an arm around Cinnamon's shoulder to hug her good morning. Shane closes the door as everyone is greeting everyone else outside. Less than five minutes later, he comes out wearing the kilt and all his weaponry. Cinnamon shyly, a little awkwardly but still genuinely, hugs Hilde in return. When Shane emerges, Cinnamon carefully locks the door, then turns and smiles at Hilde, "Thank you for thinking of us! How are you all this morning?" She's silently disappointed in Marcus and the 'reveal' faction -- their answer to Killa's attack on her is not to apologize... but to send a spy?!
Hilde smiles, "Oh, we're OK. I wanted to check on you, and Thorn is asking about how to get a job and a place to stay." She squeezes the human's hand, "And I think to get a little space between himself and Marcus. I suspect there are going to be a lot of people coming by to say hello to you."
Cinnamon realizes at that point that she feels a bit sorry for poor Thorn. For all she knows, he really wants to be on the 'hide' faction! But no matter his personal thoughts on the matter... they won't matter a whit when his elven, um... gosh, she has no idea what to call this relationship! Puppeteering? Mastery? Seduction? Something else entirely? Well... whatever. If they want something other than what Thorn wants... he's kinda stuck, as Cinnamon understands this. She nods silently to Hilde; she has no idea what to say.
Hilde looks seriously at Cinnamon, "I'm sorry if we're imposing. I've been making sure Thorn here has contact and agency outside Marcus." Or Athala, but she's not going to say that just now, "Please. Let's go to the park and have muffins. It'll give you neutral ground for anyone that comes by and wants to check on you or send messages." Shane nods, "She's right, you know. It keeps them from coming here. We can even get Llew to set you up an office at Currier's Hall."
Cinnamon looks hopefully at Shane, at the prospect of an office, "Can we do that?! That'd be awesome, if so -- I hadn't realized there'd be folks who might want to talk to me routinely, until just a few minutes ago!"
Shane nods, "Easily. A lot of the councillors have offices that they use at least temporarily when they're in town."
Cinnamon sighs in relief, "Oh, yeah -- I would love that, please! Not only would it be nice for regular folks to know where to find me if they've got a problem I can help with... but I, um..." she blushes faintly, "there's... well, some of those folks from the meeting? I... really... I mean, it's probably rude of me, but I d-don't really... want them in my home?"
Thorn says quietly, "I don't blame you."
Hilde's voice is wry, "I wouldn't want some of them in my house, either."
Cinnamon sighs in relief, giving Thorn the first genuine smile he's gotten from her today, "Oh, thank you so much for understanding!"
Thorn smiles quietly back to Cinnamon. "You're very welcome. Honestly, I still feel like a very small fish in a very large ocean."
Cinnamon nods ruefully, "Yeah, me too." She smiles at Hilde, then, "So, where's this park? I didn't realize there was anything but buildings along Coblyn!"
Hilde beams, "It's down this way! A lot of people overlook it. It's a little pocket park..."
The pocket park turns out to be through a little wooden archway and looks like it takes up the space of about a typical lot. There are trees and grass and flowers around the verge. There are no picnic tables, but there's a very inviting patch of shade beneath one of the trees. Cinnamon blinks as she looks around the park, "Oh, wow... this is lovely! Thank you for telling me -- well, us, really; Thorn's new here too, after all -- about it."
Thorn pauses under the archway, shaking his head. "I shouldn't be surprised anymore," he says, nevertheless sounding happy. "But I am -- this place is so much better!"
Cinnamon glances curiously at Thorn, "Better than what?"
Hilde grins and nods, "Someone would have showed you eventually. There are a couple of people who have little gardens behind their houses or on the roofs. Most of the people living here come from the wilds."
Cinnamon's eyes widen, "A garden? On the roof?!" She wonders happily if there's any space behind her little cottage -- she'll have to go check later! She hadn't even thought to look, earlier.
Thorn says, "Well, what used to be 'home' for me. Upstate New York. Outside of the trod it's pretty bland."
Cinnamon blinks at Thorn, pushing her glasses into place, "Really? Huh... so you didn't enjoy your life there, I take it?" She smiles shyly as she adds, "I really like math!"
Thorn considers his answer. "It's... hard to explain," he says slowly. "First off, I'm sorry if I say 'outside the trod' a lot. I kind of have two points of reference: Outside it, and inside it. Outside, I do some civilian medical work for the National Guard. I like my work, I like helping them, but compared to the world inside the trod, it's very different. Colors are subdued, things seem kind of the same from one place to another. People are different, at least, but unless I get to know them, they kind of blur into one another." He nods to the park. "Here on Coblyn Street, though... everything is so different! I enjoyed life in the trod, and I didn't dislike life outside it. It's just everything is so much more... more here."
Cinnamon tilts her head curiously as she watches and listens to Thorn. She's not really precisely sure what he means... but she smiles and says courteously, "Well, then I'm glad you're able to stay here."
He lets out a breath, smiling beatifically as he looks around and nods. "So am I."
Hilde hands out the muffins and chatters cheerfully. She seems quite relaxed around Thorn, at least. Shane looks at Thorn and says, "You said you're doing medic stuff for the National Guard. Are you military trained?"
"Briefly," Thorn replies to Shane. "I went through Basic, and then right into medic school, but I wasn't deployed anywhere. It just turned out to be convenient that they had someone from the National Guard working in the state NG medical offices. I'm on the inactive list now, because of effective color blindness."
Cinnamon munches on her delicious hot muffin and listens in silent fascination. She quietly wonders how someone in upstate New York stumbled over German-accent-sounding elves. Maybe he was vacationing in Germany or something? Cinnamon wonders next: is it rude to ask things like that? It's about background, rather than species. Hmm... which might make it sound like she was prying into his life. Yeeps! No, best not to ask. Shane nods and says, "Did you know that they used to recruit color blind men to be navigators in World War II? It let them see contrast better."
As Hilde thought might happen, it doesn't take long for someone to find them there. The someone turns out to be Nasteexo. Or at least the interpreter is Nasteexo's. The person with the interpreter is a young Latinx wearing a wife-beater and baggy jeans with his hair slicked back against his head. Cinnamon blinks startledly at sight of the giant man and the scary-looking (to her sheltered perspective) young possible gang member. She throws a hasty glance at Shane and Josie, checking to see if they look worried or not -- she's trying not to shrink back herself as is!
Thorn blinks to Shane. "I didn't know that, no." He smiles lopsidedly. "These days, they're a lot more strict about that sort of thing."
Shane nods, face solemn, "These days they look for weaknesses instead of strengths." When he turns to the big man and the (probably) gang-member, he seems untroubled. Josie doesn't seem upset, either. The large man rumbles, "Nasteexo wished to convey his sincere regrets that you were assaulted by the snake-man yesterday."
Cinnamon blinks again, nervously pushing her glasses up and breathlessly replying, "That- it's, uh -- th-thank you?" She hopes her voice didn't squeak too much. She blinks again as something registers: Nasteexo is male? Huh! Cinnamon had thought female, initially. Tentatively she gives a slightly quavery smile at the two men, "Th-that's... very nice of you... both?"
Nasteexo looks to the interpreter and says something. To the humans, it sounds a bit like it could be French. Or maybe Spanish. Hell, it could be Latin. The large man nods his head, "Nasteexo says that he hopes that Killa's temper does not make you think we are all violent."
Cinnamon's eyes widen in interest, and she blurts out, "How cool! Wh-what language is that, please?" Then she realizes she was asked a question, and hastily adds, "O-oh! I -- er, n-no? I... think? I mean, I... I don't actually know you all, you know? So... how c-could I know if you were all violent or not... right?" Thorn directs his attention to Nasteexo -- at least, they're being introduced as Nasteexo -- and the interpreter. He holds himself still and remains quiet; he's almost certain that Nasteexo (and the interpreter!) will recognize him. Cinnamon adds a little sadly, "Though... humans really aren't that bad, you know. I'm sorry Killa seems to hate them that much."
The interpreter says, "It is a Creole. Nasteexo's worshipers mostly speak Spanish or French with some Caribbean words thrown in. Nasteexo does not speak English, however. That is my job for Nasteexo." He nods to the lwa and says, "Humans are quite good. Killa was out of line." Nasteexo snorts and says one word that Cinnamon and Thorn both might have heard just on TV, "Pendejo!"
Cinnamon blinks startledly, one hand coming up to cover her mouth... and then a small, shocked giggle escapes her! Thorn coughs a bit to cover his own reaction. He knows that word. Josie giggles and even Shane smirks. It seems that's a word they all know. The interpreter doesn't bother to translate, "Nasteexo also wished to tell you that they are glad to hear that Liam's line did not end when he did."
Cinnamon hesitates -- then realizes this is actually a very safe moment for her. She flushes a bit at her own forwardness, but says anyway, "So, ahh... m-may I ask you a question, please?" The enormous man looks around, noting that they seem to be having a picnic and starting to say something, when Cinnamon asks her question. Nasteexo grins and says something, chuckling. The interpreter says in his steady voice, "Nasteexo says you already did, but you may ask more."
Cinnamon pushes her glasses up, her expression almost diffident from nervousness, "I, um, sorry? Er, I mean, I... well, I really want to... to understand what's going on here, you know? S-so... could you tell me, please, why you vote for reveal instead of hide? Like... what your reasons are, please?"
Nasteexo listens to the question, looks thoughtful, and then speaks to the interpreter who listens in his turn and nods, "Nasteexo says that if it were done right, people would be happy to have the old spirits back. Nasteexo has family members who do quite well in the south and in the islands that the Black people filtered through on their way to this continent. It is not natural for all magic to be gone from the world."
Cinnamon nods interestedly -- she's listening very carefully. She really does want to know what motivates the votes of the various Council members, after all. Thorn thinks, [And there's the rub. Done right... but who can say what the right way is, before it happens?] Cinnamon thinks for a moment, then says slowly, "So... what would doing it right mean, please?"
Nasteexo speaks, looking thoughtful. Then the interpreter says, "Slowly. Carefully. With the sweetest voices and gentlest faces. This is why Nasteexo is apologizing for Killa's aggression."
Cinnamon nods slowly again... then says seriously, "How would you manage Killa, then? 'Cause I'm willing to bet he sure wouldn't want to be slow and careful, you know?" She does not miss that Nasteexo's statement has pretty much lumped her in with the humans, of course. She doesn't mind, though, since she effectively is human -- or at least has believed herself to be one for all but a week or two of her life. Josie, Shane, and Hilde are all listening to this quietly. Cinnamon needs to feel her own way through some of this.
Nasteexo speaks and the interpreter says, "A way could be found. Everyone has their price for peace. But Nasteexo does not wish for you to be given the impression that all of those that wish to go forth into the world are like that." Nasteexo speaks again and the interpreter nods, "Nasteexo says we must return this horse to his home. His mother needs him to help her with her car tonight."
Cinnamon blinks startledly at that... then smiles, "Oh, that... that's nice! Sure, I don't want to keep you. Thank you for stopping by!" She finds Nasteexo's concern for his or her 'horse' to be... well, actually a huge relief! Here's someone who 'uses' humans, yet apparently can still care for them. Both Nasteexo and the interpreter nod and then turn to leave. On the back of the horse's shirt is a flag. It is divided by a thick white cross with red and blue rectangles. The upper left and lower right are blue. Upper right and lower left are red. There is a small crest in the center. The horse looks up and speaks with the interpreter, making the stolid man smile as they leave the park. Cinnamon watches a little wistfully -- she has no idea what the apparent flag means, or what the two humans' untranslated speech might have revealed... but she half-hopes her guess was correct, and what Nasteexo said was actually their own beliefs.
Shane huhs quietly, "Dominican. There are a lot of them around here. People usually tend to walk softly around them."
Cinnamon blinks at Shane, "He's... a Catholic priest? I, er, had no idea there were any that also believed in voodoo!"
Josie giggles and shakes her head, "No. Dominican Republic. Islanders. There's a large population of them here. But voudou is, uhm... Hilde, what's that word?" Hilde smiles, "Syncretic. Most of them would tell you they're Catholic, but they also make offerings to the lwa."
Cinnamon says, "Oh! Okay." She's quiet for a moment... then she looks at the others, "So does anyone except the big man with no name understand that, er... creole?" Thorn taps his chin thoughtfully. He's glad that the 'reveal' faction sent someone to apologize to Cinnamon, but he doubts that it was entirely in good faith. Still, they're trying to patch things up. And if he had to guess, they're going to try to convince Cinnamon that they absolutely do have a way to do a big reveal 'gently.' Unless, of course, someone gets impatient... but then again, having another assassination would be more than merely suspect.
Hilde shrugs a little, "I'm sure some have picked a bit of it up. I mean, Killa speaks Spanish and a couple of other native languages from Central and South America, so maybe he could puzzle some of it out." Cinnamon nods silently... then finishes off her muffin, licking her fingers clean. She wishes a bit mournfully that there was some way for all the various Council members to meet each other and become friends... rather than always being angry with each other.
Josie is frowning. Josie frowning looks fearsome indeed. Someone her size and of her species can't always help looking a bit scary, "That's the first time I've seen Nasteexo just... out and about."
Cinnamon blinks at Josie's expression, her eyes widening a bit. "Is that... er... bad?" Thorn's brow furrows as he listens to Josie.
Shane pauses in picking crumbs off the liner of his muffin and says, "Bad? Not necessarily... just odd." Hilde reaches out and rests a hand lightly on Thorn's shoulder and nods, "Weird. But... hopeful?" Shane snorts and says, "Hilde, you are possibly the biggest optimist I've ever encountered. And I lived in Quinn's trod for a while. Beansidhe are always quite certain they're going to come out on top."
Cinnamon blinks again, pushing her glasses up into place again as she considers that very curious thought: is constant hopefulness a form of arrogance? Or is arrogance a necessary element of hopefulness? Cinnamon finally muses, "Hopeful... can be good, maybe, right?" She looks around with interest, wondering if there are other, um, odd appearances coming too!
Thorn smiles quietly to Hilde, then says curiously, "Do the lwa not like being out and about?"
Hilde wrinkles her nose, "There is a difference between optimism and blithely ignoring the possible bad things." Shane grins and nods, "Luckily, the trod has Quinn, Saoirse, and Aisling to moderate it." Hilde mmms, "It's not that they don't like being out and about... I don't think? I mean, Nasteexo goes to council meetings and you saw them at Marcus' dinner. I've just never seen Nasteexo randomly wandering the street." As she finishes speaking, a deep voice with a rumble so deep it feels like it's shaking your bones says, "I'd say someone is watching. Or someone saw and is reporting." The accent has a soft Slavic tone to it.
Cinnamon squeaks startledly as she jumps! -but then remembers -- it must be that... the small guy, what was his name... he was a -- a domovoy? Was that it? She glances around and grins nervously, "Jeepers, don't creep up on a girl like that, please!"
Vanya, like Josie, could look terrifying to someone that had never met him. However, Cinnamon at least has met the bipedal brown bear. Though he and Josie are of a heigh, Vanya's breadth of shoulder makes him seem positively enormous. His deep-set brown eyes twinkle as he says, "But I am perhaps biased, da? I was in Mother Russia in the 1980's for some little time."
Cinnamon eeks! again, almost falling over backwards where she's sitting in order to look up at the freaking enormous giant bearman! She looks away, swallows hard, then takes a deep breath and pushes her glasses firmly back into place. After that she tries hard not to not sound quite so spooked, "Okay! Okay, uhh... whew. Right. Where was I... ah, right! So, er... d-did you mean Nasteexo was watching? O-or... someone else? Or w-what, please?"
Thorn looks over at the source of the voice, does a double-take, then almost falls over backwards in startlement. Josie bounds up from her seat and is over to Vanya in two steps. She throws herself at the bear for a hug. He's possibly one of the few people she can hug just as exuberantly as she wants, "Vanya!" She gets hugged back and a resounding kiss on each cheek. To Cinnamon he says, "It is difficult for me to creep up on anyone most times, da? So I do not think of it." Cinnamon rolls her eyes at that! Great -- she needs to work on her cluelessness as well. Her mental shopping/to-do list is just getting longer and longer!
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