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The Winter Hollow is cold all year-round, the size of a small village. There are small cottages made by the Court members, and every Winter can claim a cottage if they like. A few are larger, where motleys have merged their cottages together to make slightly larger spaces for themselves. A Winter Garden sits off to one side of the Town Square in the center of the Hollow, and in the Town Square is a huge old tree, into which has been carved a phone booth.
The Queen's cottage sits right next to the phone booth, a petite and welcoming little cottage like something out of a Christmas card. She's worked very hard to make it so.
It's quiet right now, as it often is. Lux has some time to prepare while waiting. Robin has been an infrequent visitor, but Lux's intelligence suggests she often comes by on Thursdays, for whatever reason.
Lux is willing to be patient. It's not too unlike them to hang out around the Winter Hollow anyway, but today they're spending most of their time Light-Shyed, lounging on the roof of the tiny cottage they claimed for themself when they first joined the Court. Occasionally peering over the edge down at the rest of the cottages, waiting for a certain Steward to show up.
It literally takes hours of waiting, but what is Winter if not cold, steady and patient? And finally, the middle-aged Elemental steps through the portal and heads for her cabin. She's dressed like she just came from a meeting in a pantsuit and carrying a briefcase.
Lux doesn't immediately leap out at her or anything. They watch her move through the hollow and towards the cabin, and once she's inside they quietly slide off the roof, hopping down. They take their time, giving it a few minutes--they don't want it to seem too convenient that Lux is showing up right as she is. But then they take a deep breath, letting Light-Shy fade away as they head over to her cottage to knock on the door.
"Come in," Robin's voice answers, just a little too long after the knock to be anything but slightly awkward.
Lux pushes the door open and peeps inside, then slides in and nudges it closed behind them, flashing a bright smile. "Hey! Sorry, is this a bad time?"
She stands inside, at her desk, the briefcase open on it, as if she'd been about to take papers out from inside it; she's taken off her suit coat and it hangs on her shoulders loosely. Robin offers Lux the smallest, most polite of smiles. "I can make time, of course, for you. What can I do for you, Lux?"
Has Robin even seen Lux since they became Oathbroken? Awkward.
Lux glances at the briefcase then offers her an apologetic smile as they realize they probably interrupted work. "I just had a quick question about the Radio, is all."
They're trying to play it cool. The role of excited wide-eyed newbie who wants to learn the ropes, seeking the experience of a veteran. Totally not suspicious of her at all, nope.
"I was listening a couple weeks ago--there was this weird voice on it that said those numbers and letters? But it didn't sound like a call in, and it didn't sound like the normal Radio voice either. I was wondering if something weird happened?"
She blinks once, twice, and leans her weight on one leg, hands resting on the edges of the briefcase. "Yeah, I heard that, too." A small frown. "Honestly, I'm not sure. I've been doing my own research into it, but I haven't been able to pinpoint anything. Kind of makes me wonder if someone's brought a radio from Baltimore or something." A pause. "Have you asked Marjorie?"
"Oh. Hrm." Lux almost looks disappointed that it wasn't a cool thing she had control over. They frown. "So you think someone hacked into it with a different radio?" They watch her thoughtfully, then nod. "I mentioned it to Marjorie, yeah. She didn't really have any ideas either."
She lies like a fancy-ass rug, so completely believable in that moment. There's a stack of papers in the briefcase, contracts and meeting notes, but nothing quite so interesting as the small, black knife inches from Robin's fingers. Ugly, brutal, and most definitely iron.
The tiniest frown creases Robin's face. "That's strange. She's the strongest of us, I thought -- if someone was bringing a radio from elsewhere, she would know."
Lux tries very, very hard not to call attention to it. Not to show that they saw and that they're not fucking terrified. Ignore the sirens going off.
Lux frowns as well, now looking worried. "Should I keep my radio close, just in case? Is there anything I can do to help you look into this? If the security of the Radio is being called into question... that's... not good." A beat pause. "What did the message even mean?"
Two Winters, alike in sneakyboo, both fooling the fuck out of each other. "You know, I ... I think it was hex code? But that's not really my forte. I spend most of my time working in the real world, and I leave the interpretations of codes like that to other people." Robin's hand -- the one not near her knife -- comes up to absently rub at her face. "I think it's probably not a bad idea to keep our radios close. I mean, it never is... and if there's a stolen radio out there, well, maybe someone's targeting our secure communications... "
Lux grimaces. "That's... fuck. Not good. Um." Their weight shifts between their feet, bouncing a bit with restless energy. "Yeah, uh. I'll be more careful with it. I mean--yeah, I do my best to be careful already, but... Keep it closer." Their head bobs. "So you think someone in Baltimore might be the most likely candidate?"
"I can't think of anybody else, honestly. The Lehigh Valley doesn't have their shit together enough, New York's too far for casual travel... unless someone's going by trod, and I would hope we have enough of a presence to know... " Robin's mouth twists slightly, and she reaches for a pencil, starting to scribble something on one of the pieces of paper in her briefcase, as if making a note. "Would you be willing to look into it for me? My plate's totally full right now."
Lux glances at the scribble, trying to make out what she's writing. "Yeah, sure. I can look into this, no problem."
Lux hesitates, glancing at the paper, then looks back at her. "...Have I done something to upset you? I can leave you alone, if I'm bothering you," they murmur, oh so innocently.
"... no, I imagine you wouldn't want to upset me," Robin answers sort of vaguely, studying Lux for a bit longer than she absolutely needs to. One hand casually rested near the knife, the other set on the piece of paper. She scribbles a phone number next to it. "But you didn't answer my question." More than one person can have the same name, after all.
"What--oh, that I'll look into it for you? Yeah--of course I will." Their head bobs. "It effects both of us, right? If someone's fucking up the Radio, they need to be found."
"... exactly," Robin answers; she slowly tears the piece of paper free, and passes it over to Lux.
Lux accepts the piece of paper, glancing at it, then back up at Robin. "Who's the number for?"
"My contact in Baltimore. He'll be able to tell you if any of their radios have gone AWOL," and with that, Robin smiles her customer service smile. "I agree, if anyone's fucking with the Radio -- we can't stand for that."
Their head bobs, smiling again. "Oh, awesome. Thanks! I'll give them a call and let you know if I hear anything."
Her smile is perfect. Flawless. "Perfect. Thank you so much." A slow blink. "You've been doing terribly well, from all I've heard. I'm so grateful to have your help on this." Robin adds: "What else can I do for you, Lux?"
Lux pockets the number, shaking their head. "Nothing else, right now. Thanks, Robin. I appreciate the advice."
A little bob of her head, and Robin answers, "Of course. It's part of the job description, isn't it?" She shifts her shoulders a little, adding, "I've had a long day - sorry to rush you out, but. I would love a nap."
"For sure." They flash a grin. "Enjoy your nap. See you!" They turn, making their way out of the cottage. Though there's a glance back after a few step towards the windows to see if there's any peeping out.
The briefcase sits on the desk, still open, though it's difficult to see if the knife is still in it. The woman? She's gone.
Helldivers, y'all.
Welp. There goes the idea of trying to stalk her. Uh. Lux is gonna head out of the Hollow...
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