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Spicy: Spicy makes her way into the Freehold Hollow again today, she's still carrying the heavy duty bag over her shoulders and wearing denim and leather, just in case. She takes a seat near the notice board and opens what seems to be her lunch box and starts eating something from there, seems like sandwiches with some kind of red meat within.
Aurelio Menegi: Not long after Spicy got settled Aurelio made his way into the hollow from the mundane side, dressed casually in all black as was his wont. Spotting the Ogress he smiled a touch, giving her a nod as he continued on towards the board. "Bueno sera."
Spicy: "Hey." Spicy greets Aurelio, her smile shows glistening teeth made of ice and she raise her hand before returning to a more neutral expression, she swallows her bite and set the sandwich back down and then stand up to greet him. "Got in contact with a few of the people mentioned last we spoke at Maddy's." she wipes at her mouth.
Aurelio Menegi: "Oh?" Aurelio gave a curious look at that, visibly trying to remember who she might be referring to. "As far as the motley is concerned, you mean?"
Spicy: "Oh no, I meant like artists guilds and such, I got a few phone numbers, I also got hired at a restaurant full time." Spicy explains and grins. "Things moved up for me a little." she set her hand on her hips. "what about you? How're things for you?"
Aurelio Menegi: "Ah...congratulations on both." He nodded with a smile. "Well enough. Readying to aid with reaching out to the Patriarch Tree about the blight, myself."
Spicy: "Oh, you're going with Annie right?" Spicy says with a little smile that disappears quickly, she quickly return to her lunch box and eats a bit from it. "Who else goes to Patriarch's Tree?" she asks
Aurelio Menegi: The fading smile earned a curious look as Aurelio moved to take a seat beside her. "Another called Lif. Was Verdant but joined my court not long before my coming, I believe. Haven't met her yet, though."
Spicy: "I met once, she's very interested in the blight stuff and was very invested in investigating the hedge." Spicy roll her shoulders. "In regard to that at least." she points to the board. "other people are on it too, apprently." she take another bite out of her sandwich.
Aurelio Menegi: "She mentioned wanting to know if they were dealing with the blight as well or if they had found some way to fend it off. Suppose we'll see." He nodded, looking toward the boards when she pointed towards them. "Ah...good to know."
Spicy: "I think she mentioned being an eco warrior or at least, that's the vibe I got from them." She shrug her shoulder. "I think they're a good person to have on the team if you need to explain the problem or potentially explore avenues."
Aurelio Menegi: "Most likely. Are you taking part at all?"
Spicy: "I'm planning on escorting the Journey in the Hedge to find samples for Lif later." She explains and nods. "Lif is planned to be a part of that, Ianthe too I believe."
Aurelio Menegi: "Best of luck, then."
Spicy: "If you want to join too, maybe there's a spot?" Spicy says with a little nod, she looks at Aurelio and pokes at him. "By the way, are you still interested in forming the artsy group. I'm not pushing you, but i am checking, they went ahead and formed the healer one recently."
Aurelio Menegi: "Not opposed. Need to get more used to the Hedge here anyway." He nodded, giving her a curious look at the poke before smiling at the question. "Si, very much so. Talked with Annie and Adela recently, just need to get the four of us together to work out the oath."
Spicy: Spicy smiles brightly and bounces lightly into place. "Yes, do we have anyone who's good with words or things like that? I'm not certain about forming an oath myself it'd be sort of my first time."
Aurelio Menegi: "Not me, for sure." He chuckled, shaking his head with a smirk. "Not my mother tongue and all."
Spicy: "We can probably get people to look it over and tell us if we're being silly or dangerous." Spicy comments and gives Aurelio a smile. "I doubt it'd be that terrible though."
Aurelio Menegi: "Mmhmm. Doesn't need to be too complex. We talked of offering mutual aid as well as teaching our crafts, things of that nature, and I offered my current hollow as a base since it already has a workshop for my own specialties and enough room to expand for others."
Spicy: "I got a workshop for sculpting, cooking and Hedge fruit gardening myself." Spicy comments with a smile "But we could join yours and maybe use another as some form of backup, in case something happens."
Aurelio Menegi: "Ah...handy that. Adela mentioned having a garden of her own that she could move." He nodded quietly. "Would be best for us four to talk and work out details, then."
Spicy: "Maybe tour our hollow and location to see which would fit better? If that's any kind of useful, of course." She finishes her sandwich and discreetly wipe at her mouth. "Did I ask what your favorite food was yet?"
Aurelio Menegi: "Should be. Can't move my kiln so easily, but the woodworking tools would be fine since they're all by hand." He paused at the question, thinking a moment before shaking his head. "You did not. Seafood in general, although more grilled or baked than fried."
Spicy: "Okay good to know, lots of people like the seafood around here." Spicy comments with a smile. "Spicy food okay or do you prefer not?" A little nod of her head.
Aurelio Menegi: "Grew up on the water, after all." He nodded, smiling a touch. "Good with heat overall."
Spicy: "Alright, spicy seafood a possibility." Spicy says with just a small smile and she run her fingers through her hair. "I love having work, but I smell like grease like, almost all the time now."
Aurelio Menegi: "Can imagine...where are you working?"
Spicy: Spicy gives the name of the little greasy spoon dinner she works at, near Kensington actually. "It's cheap food, but it's really good when the right people are on staff." she wags her eyebrow, exagerating the self promotion a little bit for humor purposes.
Aurelio Menegi: "Noted...will have to come by." He smiled softly. "Glad you were able to find something on that front."
Spicy: "It helps a lot with many little mundane issues and I don't have to budget everything so tightly now." She grin. "But I have a little less free time, but hey." a shrug. "We Live in a Society."
Aurelio Menegi: "That does help, yes. Don't have much once everything is tended to, but it's enough."
Spicy: She nods there for a moment. "Yep I understand that part too well. What do you do for that sort of work?"
Aurelio Menegi: "Glassblowing at a studio in South Philadelphia. They use the same techniques as I was taught in Venice."
Spicy: "Oh, I knew you did Glassblowing wasn't sure if that's what paid the bill." Spicy nods. "Tried working on a design for a stone and glass statue and I honestly thing we might have some problem with temprature variation in term of durability." she nod "Sorry, I just remember that."
Aurelio Menegi: "Perhaps...would depend on the design in question. Using the glass as an accent for the stone would probably work well, though."
Spicy: "I imagine there are other vision for a sculpture than mine yes." she blushes, slightly embarassed by the lack of vision.
Aurelio Menegi: "No need to put yourself down." He gave her a quiet look at that. "We all have our own insights to offer, no?"
Spicy: "We do!" She smiles and nod and scratch the back of her neck. "Speaking of, what do you plan on doing for the rest of the evening?"
Aurelio Menegi: "Not much planned at the moment, barring heading home. You?"
Spicy: "I wasn't planning anything specific." Spicy offers with an unknowing shrug. "Was just asking, I can offer to escort you home when you get to that part."
Aurelio Menegi: "Appreciate it, and not opposed." He nodded with a small smile. "I do enjoy your company."
Spicy: Spicy nods. "I like making sure people are safe, I'm not a Summer, mind you, but I swing a mean swing." A shrug of her shoulder. "And I enjoy getting to know you a bit better, I feel like I ought to."
Aurelio Menegi: "We're not the only ones who fight, we just focus on it." Another small nod. "Indeed. It's good to get to talk."
Spicy: "Where do you live in Philly?" She asks, curious and tilting her head to the side.
Aurelio Menegi: "Not far from the studio in South Philadelphia. You?"
Spicy: "Kensington, it's not the cutest neighborhood in the entire world but I'm definitely happy with the house I managed to get out of this." She nods "It looks in disrepair, but I didn't have any money to fix the stuff."
Aurelio Menegi: "Ah. Not been up that way much." He nodded quietly. "Have an apartment myself, works well enough."
Spicy: "That's probably how I would be too if I hadn't gotten a little lucky when I came back." She explains summarily. A roll of her shoulder.
Aurelio Menegi: Cue curious look from the Torrent. "Lucky how, if you can say?"
Spicy: "Oh nothing magical, just actually lucky." She explains "I got a bit of money from dealing with my Fetch and getting a lot of little job, so I got the house super cheap."
Aurelio Menegi: "Ah." He nodded quietly. "Not something I had to deal with. Small blessing there, perhaps."
Spicy: "My Fetch was actually kind of nice to me, even if she was a little ...er.. cold." She shrug her shoulder. "So my documentation is from there, but I don't have everything."
Aurelio Menegi: "Right. Mine had passed some time before my return, but building a new face for the world to know from what was left was able to be done."
Spicy: "Yeah I heard the passage of time is a fuck sometimes, I got kind of lucky on that front myself." She explains. "I know some dates don't quite match, but it's ... like, pretty mundane compared to some of the stuff I heard."
Aurelio Menegi: "Mmm." He nodded quietly. "Not sure how long it was there, but was quite a while when I got out."
Spicy: "I'm not sure it was measure in years plural." A shrug of her shoulder. "But then again, it was dark all the time, so it was pretty hard to keep track of it."
Aurelio Menegi: "True. Don't have to worry about that anymore, at least."
Spicy: "Indeed." Spicy bounces a little bit. "And hopefully, if a hunter shows up, we have some friends who'll help."
Aurelio Menegi: "Indeed we do." He nodded with a small smile. "With any luck that won't be an issue any time soon, though."
Spicy: Spicy crosses her fingers, as if to retain said luck and smiles. "Do you have problems eating frozen things? like Ice cream or similar stuff?"
Aurelio Menegi: "Not really. You?"
Spicy: "Was outside all the time and it was super cold." She shrugs. "I ate ice and frozen plant, I can't stand cold stuff anymore."
Aurelio Menegi: "Makes sense. Is not my first choice, but I don't have any issues with it off-hand."
Spicy: Spicy chuckles "Yeah I imagine it was mostly just me on that one" She pops her knuckles a little bit there and looks about. "Mostly."
Aurelio Menegi: "Since Adela and I were both inside, you mean." There was no judgement in the question, just a want to make sure he was following her correctly.
Spicy: Spicy nods "Well, there were other people outside sometimes, but normally not for long, as I remember."
Aurelio Menegi: He nodded in kind. "Don't remember many interactions outside, barring yours. Then again, don't remember much at all."
Spicy: "I do try not to." She nods "It tends to be kind of unpleasant most days." Spicy looks back at her bag. "I can't turn on the lights wherever I go."
Aurelio Menegi: "True. But, we have the choice more often than not, which is more than we had there."
Spicy:' Spicy nods. "It is." she seems to be a little awkwardly silent for a moment as she sort through a few feelings and run her fingers over her hair "Sorry, I don't know what to say right now" a soft chuckle. (do it!)
Gallowglass: From the trod a figure emerges; it's the glass ogre! He trudges into the freehold proper, stopping to take stock and see who's around. When he finds Spicy and Aurelio he brightens, heading over to them. "Well, fancy meetin' you two here," he drawls, lopsided smile in place.
Aurelio Menegi: "Not to worry. The words run out sometimes." He nodded quietly, then looked towards Gallowglass with a smile as he made his presense known. "Good seeing you again."
Spicy: She turns to see Gallowglass arrives and raise her hand in greetings "Hey there!"
Gallowglass: "Hey stranger; glad t'see you," he claps Aurelio on the shoulder as he sits. "Spicy, I got in touch with Lucia in the Winter court; was thinking she could go with you and Lif when you head out on the trod. She's real eager t'get involved and she seems like she knows her shit."
Rhapsody: Rhapsody strolls in from the ironside entrance. Tonight she's wearing an oversized sweater and a pair of leggings. She heads into the freehold quietly, looking about to what's going on tonight. She still doesn't look entirely -comfortable- within the hedge, but she seems less hesitant than the last few times.
Aurelio Menegi: The trio was seated near the main announcement board, with Aurelio looking towards the new arrival and giving a polite nod before turning back to Gal. "Been asked to go on the run to the Tree myself. Curious to see how it goes."
Spicy: "Lucia? Good I'll try to get in contact with her and see what I can do for her." She flex her arm. "Will try to keep everyone safe." She looks toward Rhapsody "Hey there!"
Gallowglass: "Yeah?" His brows lift, and he nods in approval. "Be careful - I know, doesn't really need t'be said. Humor me, I'm gonna say it anyway." He grins, attention moving to the new arrival; the light beneath his glass gleams bright. He lifts a hand to draw Rhapsody their way. "Rhapsody!"
Rhapsody: "Hello good, good evening everyone." She says with a nod to the assembled. "What's the Tree, and why would you make a run there?" She asks, curiously, before taking a seat near the others.
Aurelio Menegi: "Another freehold nearby. Going to check if the blight here is elsewhere, and see what aid they might be able to offer." Aurelio offered Rhapsody a hand, the marble his form was made of shockingly cold especially compared to the heat of his Summer mantle. "Aurelio Menegi, good to meet you."
Spicy: "I'll try to be careful." Spicy says to Rook with just a little nod smiling, her attention turn to Rhapsody and her mantle flares up at the proximity of her fellow spring courtier. A refreshing breeze swirls around the ogress, a strong scent of spring time flowers, and the appetizing aroma of various fruits dance around her, weting appetites sharply. "How're you doing?"
Gallowglass: "I've been in th'Hedge with Aurelio a couple times now; we managed t'make it out both times." He offers Rhapsody a grin, bumping his brows. "Can't beat a hundred percent success rate, huh?"
Rhapsody: "Impressive." She grins at Gal and Aurelio. "Nice to meet you Aurelio, like they said, I'm Rhapsody. I'm still pretty new here, so.. I have to meet a lot of folks. I hope your visit to the other freehold proves fruitful."
Aurelio Menegi: "Same. Dealing with the blight is important, and I am happy to help where I can."
Spicy: "Well, maybe if you found a lost person in the hedge while there, you might come out with more than a Hundred percent win rate?" Spicy says, after thinking for a bit about Gallowglass's words. "I think that's how maths work?"
Gallowglass: "Oh, good point," he nods, giving Spicy a finger-gun. "I'm over a hundred percent, with the kits bein' rescued."
Rhapsody: Rhapsody loooks at Spicy. "You mentioned that you grow fruits, right? So you're familiar with like.. hedge plants? Have you learned anything about how we can maybe, umm, help the plants here at least a litlte until whatever is behind the problem is taken care of?"
Spicy: "I ought to do a little bit of research in that department yeah, not sure what i'll be able to find out there." Spicy smiles at the question. "I'll see what I can learn from there, might not be much." (Take an assist for Spicy talking to Aurelio about the Motley thing)
Gallowglass: "We got so many people workin' so hard; we're gonna come across somethin'." He nods, his tone certain. "Ain't got even a doubt."
Rhapsody: She nods to Gallow, smiling a bit. "You seem cheery tonight." Then she glances at Spicy. "Do you know a lot about plants? You cook, right, do you like grow your own herbs or anything like that?" (( aye aye! ))
Gallowglass: "I got no reason t'be pissy. Gimme a bit, I'll come up with somethin' t'brood over."
Spicy: "I'm confident we'll find something yeah." She echoes then, what Rhapsody says "You do seem pretty cheery, what got you in that mood?" She smiles, then turn toward Rhapsody again. "I grow my hedge fruits, but I don't currently have the space for a mundane garden."
Vorpal: Oh.
Oh my.
Sure is starting to feel unsettlingly Wyrd around the Freehold.
Yikes.
Rhapsody: She nods, then looks around a bit. "Uh, what's going on?"
Gallowglass: Gallowglass makes a noise of protest, lips parting in surprise. "What th'hell, a guy can't just be cheery? Maybe I'm tryin' t'be nicer, how about that?" He affects annoyance, but it doesn't quite wipe away his amusement. His brow does furrow, though. "I...have no idea," he murmurs, sitting up to look around.
Spicy: "Oh, I'm pretty sure we're about to have a visitor." Spicy recalls feeling this way before. She looks around, curious to see where it'll come from, if anything. "One of the local freeholder has that effect when they come in."
Vorpal: It's about the time that out of season autumnal leaves start to skitter across the ground, and all the doors nearby feel like they all go Someplace Else that Spicy gets confirmation, a few moments before Johnnie strides into view. For the unfamiliar, Johnnie is a lanky lass, absolutely covered head to toe with delicate scarification in whorling patterns and swirling designs. Her eyes are barely- BARELY- visible, distant gleams lost in shadows obscuring the upper parts of her face, beneath a head of dark and bouncy, short-cut curls. She's dressed in leather- briarwolf leather, a longcoat to be precise, with perfectly ordinary denim and gray tee beneath. She's undeniably the source of this tremendous Wyrd, and oh, gods, is she hard to look at. It's not that she's unearthly beautiful, or ugly, or really how she looks at all, but she moves with the fluid precision of water, or wind, or- well- shadows.
In fact, shadows seem to be a bit of a theme. Shadows on the face, moves like spooky shadows, and... well, she has more than one shadow. Six, in fact, all of the doing different things while she strides up, waving an all-too-benign greeting. "Hullo, all- any news on the gardens, yet?"
Rhapsody: "Nope." Rhapsody says, looking away from Johnnie after only briefly taking her in, her hands are suddenly very interesting. "Or at least, not that I've heard, Spicy was just talking about" SHe pauses, wetting her lips and gulping a bit of air. "Talking about studying it some." Speaking of studying, Rhapsody's hands are very interesting she looks like she's gonna study those for a bit here.
Gallowglass: Gallowglass eyes Rhapsody, a protective sort of once over - but he's still affable to Johnnie, giving her a lopsided smile. "Hey. I'm Jude; this is Rhapsody. We were just talkin' about that; got here just in time. Join us?"
Spicy: Spicy stares at the new comer, trying to see her face a little better, trying to focus. "No, I don't know for sure what all this is but..." she moves toward her bag and withdraws 3 fruits from it, purples, round fruits that looks like oversized grapes. "This is what I grow in my garden and its been affected by the current issues, so if you describe to me what it taste like for you, that might help" she offers one for each of them.
Vorpal: Johnnie takes the reactions in stride- it's hard to be like she is and not be used to those- and takes a fruit from Spicy with a nod of thanks. "Sure, one sec." She chews it, seemingly taking her time to judge the flavor, before wobbling her hand back and forth. "Tastes nostalgic, but like. Less "happy days" and more "musty attic." If that tracks?" She looks to Jude, then, and nods. "Sup, Jude. Promise I'll skip the song references. Johnnie, AKA Vorpal, Ranger of the Thorns, member'a Direct Action. Pleasure's all mine. Who're your buddies?"
Rhapsody: "Like he said, I'm Rhapsody. I'm new here, umm, I like your motley. I met some of them at the funeral, June was especially nice." She takes the fruit from Spicy, turning it over in her hand as she considers. "I'm not in a motley or anything yet." She adds, still slightly subdued but gaining confidence.
Gallowglass: Gallowglass is staring at the fruit being offered out by Spicy; brow furrowed, he's clearly troubled by the goblin fruit. "..I don't...think I can help with, uh...that kinda fruit."
Spicy: "It helps just restores glamour but if you don't feel like eating it, it's fine. I'll turn it into jam so I can feed the little ones again." Spicy explains with a smile. "It was also a way to share a bit of food, since I know other people don't always have access to this."
Vorpal: "Yeah, I like'em, too," murmurs Johnnie, smiling a bit wider. "And June is particularly nice. Thanks for noticing. You seem nice, too." She shrugs at the bit about not being in a motley. "Lots of folx aren't. It's not a big deal. I wasn't for a long time. Then I was. It'll happen, or not. Just let it!" She gives Jude a funky glance when he turns down the fruit, looking to Spicy and shrugging. "So we do have some info on what the Blight is. What have you lot heard already?"
Rhapsody: "Hey, um, thanks." she glances at Johnnie and gives her a smile, but quickly looks away again, like, she's having a lot of trouble processing what she's looking at. "I haven't heard a lot, but I'm trying to get more .. involved with society, someone's been encouraging me to so... I'm trying." She flicks her gaze to Gallow at that and then goes back to contemplating the fruit. "I'll ty it in a bit and let you know, Spicy, I"m not sure I should be in a musty attic right now."
Gallowglass: "No, I mean - I'm not sure I have a place I want to taste again," he murmurs awkwardly. "The best home I've had in my life is th'one I have right now."
Spicy: "I don't know what that would make you feel, if you'd just taste the physical portion or if you'd feel a feeling you never felt before?" She tilt her head to the side, curious for a moment. "I saw what you posted on the board, at least I think it's you." she points to the bulletin board there.
"No problem, enjoy it when you do!" She smiles toward Rhapsody!
Vorpal: "Yep. That was me. There's more, like. There's been animals leaving their hunting grounds out of desperation, and obviously the loss of our crops. I'm workin' on getting some additional information. We'll see how that pans out," Johnnie explains, smiling back at Rhapsody. She gets the constant looks elsewhere. It's only reasonable."
Rhapsody: "I suppose with a title like Range of the Thorns, you spend.. a lot of time in the hedge, huh? Are those... the animals leaving, do you think they'll cause any trouble for us, or anyone else?"
Gallowglass: Gallowglass nods in agreement with Johnnie. "That's right; that's what we saw on that run out when the bugs came. And th'kits say there's no more fruits even left in the Freehold."
Spicy: "Yeah you really gotta work to make them grow now and they're not quite as big or flavorful." Spicy explains "I've felt it, but I'm hoping to use my next round to learn soemthing about it."
Vorpal: "Excessive, some would say," Johnnie confirms cheerfully with regards to her time in the Thorns. "And yeah. They've already attacked people. Displaced predators, starving omnivores, all sorts of stuff. It's a bad time to travel Hedgeside if you're not equipped for it."
Clearly she thinks she is.
"Yeah. I might go out tonight and try to hunt down some fruit just to restore the stockpile some," she confirms for Jude.
"Well, best of luck. I ain't much for green thumbs- hell, mine used to be knives- but I respect the touch. Hope you learn somethin'."
Rhapsody: "I don't head into the hedge much, at all, really. I thought I should get to know it, but... maybe that should wait." She says. "I'm definitely not equipped for it."
Gallowglass: "You don't gotta hear it from me, but I'll tell you anyway - be careful." He gives Johnnie a lopsided smile.
Spicy: "Speaking of, do you sometimes work with Liane?" Spicy asks at the intention of Johnnie. then looks to Rhapsody and offer a warmer, fonder smile "Yeah you feel like you're right where I was when I got out of the thorns, we definitely should get to know each other better." then to Gallowglass. "Hey just a question, do you have a favored method of fight? Looking to eventually expand my repertoire a bit."
Vorpal: "Oh, yeah! Liane is awesome. We don't cross paths as much as I'd like, but we definitely have some intersection, there." Johnnie nods firmly. "And take your time with the Hedge. It's REALLY easy to get in over your head. If you're not already armed to the teeth with stuff you know how to use, it can get bad, quick- and often enough, even if you are." She grins at Jude at the warning. "I'll do my best~"
She watches the conversation on fighting styles side-long, opting not to interrupt but following with interest.
Rhapsody: SHe nods to Johnnie. "Yeah, I hadn't planned on rushing it, no worries there." She glances at Spicy. "Gal hugs people until they get tired of him, as I understand it."
Gallowglass: "Oh, uh..." Gallowglass rubs his jawline, squinting thoughtfully. "I'm not sure how much of a method it is, but...I just - I do not, quit tellin' people that!" Gallowglass gives Rhapsody a look...but he grins. "...I mean, she's not wrong. I just get it over with as quick as I can. Sorta was how it had t'be where I...learned?" He shrugs. "But yeah, I just keep it mean and street and quick."
Spicy: "I fight with a giant fucking sword, I might need practice with street and quick." Spicy grins there. "I also don't have a whole lot of contract to help me out with fighting things out, but I can get out of some situation with them. Or get myself into them." as flash of an exploding fridge return to her memory.
Vorpal: "Oh, hey! Street tactics are a great way to rely on what you're good at. I use some of those tactics myself. I'm more of a... uh... hybrid combat sorta gal. Little knife play, little magic, little Contract use... I think I'm a pretty decent fighter. Can't teach you to use giant fucking swords, though. Just not my bag." Johnnie shakes her head. "So if you ever wanna learn to knife fight or something, I can give you some tips, but if you're relying on muscle over speed, I'm just really not yer gal."
Rhapsody: "Are you quick?" She asks Gallowglass, clearly skeptical.
Gallowglass: He gives Rhapsody a look, this time offended. "Yes, thank you. Probably not as fast as a knife-fighter, but I'm no slouch."
Spicy: "I work with my guns a lot." She flex a little bit. "But I got some speed there, never hurt to have some choices in the matter. If I can't get to my giant sword then, a knife would had to do." She smiles. "It's not like I'm unfamiliar with it, given what I do."
Vorpal: Johnnie nods a little, pointedly looking away to avoid being drawn into the conversation of "quick."
"Hey, versatility is good. I'm- almost- as good with my hands as I am with a blade. And I can do some cool stuff with shadows you wouldn't believe. Best to be armed always- even if that means you gotta magic your weapon into being sometimes. That's my take," she lays down, glancing between the others.
Rhapsody: "Do you have a magic weapon hiding somewhere then?" She asks Johnnie, forcing herself to look at the other woman while asking the question, then she glances at Gallow. "I only meant since you're so.. big, like, a motorcycle's faster than a monster truck, right? You're the monster truck, is all."
Gallowglass: "I can't say I've done much with swords, and I never got th'right feel with knives," he nods toward Johnnie. "I'll hold 'em down, you stab 'em. It'll work out great." He gives her a grin, brows lifting. "I can believe you can do whatever you want with th'shadows, Johnnie," he laughs a little. "Yeah, I know. I'm pretty fast for my size, I'd say."
Spicy: "Oh, brawling could be a good start to diversify." Spicy says with a bit of a smile as she moves toward her bag, searching through it for a moment. (I am very hungry and need to food. So I will be going to do that, pose around me. I may take a bit)
Vorpal: Johnnie preens at Jude's faith in her, then grins wide at Rhapsody's question, and simultaneously does two impressive things.
First, one of her shadows draws a knuckle-guard survival knife from beneath her coat and chucks it perfectly into her waiting hand!
Second, her other hand scoops a bit of shadow into its palm, hurls it up into the air as she turns around, only to reach behind herself and catching the shadow as it comes back down in the shape of a nasty little dagger!
"Why, yes- I do, as a matter of fact!" She spins the shadow blade in her hand, grasping the blade and offering the handle to Rhapsody to prove it's real. "Only one is magic- but I can enchant either. Or both. Commonly both."
"Brawling is an excellent way to diversify. Can't really ever be disarmed without being dismembered."
Rhapsody: Rhapsody eyes the knife, then cautiously reaches out, touching it with just the tips of her fingers first, maybe it's cold, or hot, or something else uncomfortable. Convincing herself it's okay she lightly takes it, wrapping her hand around it and studying the knife for few moments, before testing the tip against the edge of her finger. "You're very modest about it too Johnnie. "She says with a bit of a laugh. "I think you and Gal here will get along pretty good."
Gallowglass: "That's why I don't count on weapons," Jude agrees, nodding. "I can make one out of just about anythin', but I don't bother, t'be honest. And that was downright amazin', Johnnie, goddamn."
Spicy: Spicy pulls her giant sword from her bag. It's almost as tall as she is and pretty wide too. Ribbons of shadows wraps around the handle and the blade itself is made of ice, which in turn, seem to have shadowed things moving within. The thing looks positively dangerous to take a hit from. "I got a bat and a mundane sword in that too. Not super subtle most of the time." (still very much cooking, but pasta do have a nice little waiting time)
Vorpal: The knife, interestingly enough, feels extremely neutral. Smooth texture, no real temperature to speak of, sturdy as steel, sharp when tested. "Modest? Ha! Honey, I used to call myself a God with a straight face and a capital G. Modest has never been in my repertoire, but you'll be glad to know that we've at least moved past deific narcissism, yes indeed." She watches Spicy pull that incredible sword from her bag with no small amount of appreciation for her work and equipment.
Johnnie beams at Jude's praise grinning ear to ear. "I can do a cooler trick than that, but I'll need audience participation. Whaddya guys think? Wanna see a party trick?"
Rhapsody: She holds the knife up and looks at the sword. "Lots of shadow themed stuff." She hands the knife back to Johnnie then. "I'm up for tricks, or you guys can keep talking about fighting." She shrugs, looking at Johnnie as she wait for her to take the knife, trying to get used to it.
Gallowglass: Jude barks a laugh, amusement lacing his features; he glances to Rhapsody, maybe gauging her reaction to Johnnie's offer. When she agrees to the trick, he nods as well. He moves closer to Rhapsody, maybe to led support. "Sure, lower-case-g," he replies, grinning. "Let 'er rip."
Spicy: Spicy stands back up and bring the large sword with her and carries it over her shoulder and shrug. "What kind of trick are we talking about and what kind of assistance do you need?" She asks with a bright smile.
Vorpal: Johnnie smiles at Rhapsody as she offers the knife and waggles her hand at the others! "I need someone to throw that knife at me hard as they can!" She chirps cheerfully, taking a few strides away, staying within comfortable chucking range of her audience and adjusting her grip on the survival knife in her hand, grinning ear to ear. "Go on! Whenever you're ready. Promise you won't hurt me. Promise!"
Rhapsody: "oh I wanna!" She waits until Johnnie is where she needs to be and look at the knife, then at her, then back at the knife.. "...how do I do it though?"
Gallowglass: "Pick it up and throw it at her," Gallowglass advises, filled with sage wisdom.
Spicy: "Yeah that's not my forte, so I'm going to like, stay here and heal whoever get hurts." She grins softly and, she steps behind rhapsody, just in case the knife goes side ways.
Vorpal: "From where you're standing? Hold it by the blaaaaaaaaaaaaactually, lemme move." Johnnie takes a step closer. "Hold it by the end of the handle and swing your arm towards me. Let go like, RIGHT before you think you should. If you let go when your arm is pointing at me, you'll just throw the knife at the ground."
Rhapsody: "Okay, okay, cool" She grabs the knife by the handle, looking over at Spicy. "Back up just a bit." She does a couple 'practice swings' whipping her hand forward but not letting go, before she throws the knife at Johnnie, letting go, if anthing a bit -too- early, but hopefully the knife is coming at the other woman close enough to do her trick!
Gallowglass: Gallowglass does edge back from Rhapsody; the idea of her with a knife is a little too stressful. He watches her throw, arms folding across his chest as his attention shifts to Johnnie.
Spicy: Spicy watches and for a moment steps a little closer to be ready to intervene in case someone gets hurt or, more likely, someone has some kind of funny mishap she can be the first in line to laugh about it.
Vorpal: So this is where things get real fun to observe- and presumably FAR more entertaining to watch than experience.
The knife flings towards Vorpal with fair enough accuracy. It might not have been enough to do much harm had she actually been trying to hurt someone, but hey, the knife ended up in Johnnie's vicinity, and isn't that what's really important?
Here, at least it is!
Johnnie moves.
The way that Johnnie transitions from stationary to mobile redefines the word "motion" briefly. A Mage would have a better time explaining what they were looking at, honestly, because the best word to describe the level of sheer perfection in the way that Johnnie shifts from one position to another is Supernal. One moment she's stationary, chill and watching, and then the next she is flowing through the platonic ideal of a curving knife slash with all the wasted motion of the finest Swiss timepiece ever constructed. One moment there is a spinning black disk of a knife in the air and the next there are two and somehow both of them completely miss Johnnie, spinning through the air beyond her only to explode into puffs of dramatic black smoke the instant they hit the ground.
And somehow she finds time to conclude that exact same motion with a sweeping, theatre-appropriate bow without missing a beat.
Rhapsody: Rhapsody claps for Johnnie with a grin. "Oh, that -was- cool!" Then she looks at Gal. "I think I need more practice, you're gonna help me find some throwing knives." She nods to punctuate the command and then moves to retake her seat with a grin.
Gallowglass: Jude's jaw drops; he simply stares, speechless, for a long moment. "....I think I want t'be her when I grow up," he murmurs to Rhapsody. "And yes, of course, your wish is my command. Et cetera. You're not throwin' them at me."
Spicy: Spicy claps her hand at the sight of what she's seeing and blinks "This looks like I could probably die if I tried to attack you." a little laugh follows and a shrug of her shoulders. "Damn."
Vorpal: Johnnie beams widely at what she clearly considers perfectly appropriately impressed reactions, tucking her knife away with a gleaming grin. "Well, cards on the table, "you could die if you attacked me" is actually the technical term for that maneuver. You could do it with that sword, too, but it really benefits from being extremely quick and defensive training with your weapon. Honestly, I spent my first... year? two? Out of the Hedge so terrified something stronger than me was gonna show up that I perfected that specifically to fuck over anything that tried to wax me. By the time I was done," she explains, moving to rejoin the others at proper conversational distance, "I realized I'd accidentally picked up the skills to basically fucking wreck whatever I needed to. I totalled a tank with a paring knife, once. Wasn't even magic. Just stole it from a kitchen when I got to town. But I was, uh. Under delusions of godhood then, and that was probably a wee bit Extra of me. But then." She shrugs. She IS pretty fucking Extra, and she owns it.
"Also, you probably don't want to get this good at fighting. I haven't really found much that needs me to be this good at fighting. There's way more fun, productive stuff you could master instead with the effort it took me to get this good and, bonus, you'd be a lot more excited during fights than I am!"
Rhapsody: "Of course I wouldn't" she says to Gallowglass, patting him on the arm. "Id' start with stationary targets, throwing things at you would come later." She glances at Johnny then, taking a deep breath. "Can I ask what might be a hard question, or were you hoping to keep it light tonight?"
Gallowglass: He sighs, apparently resigned to his fate. He does study Johnny curiously, though. "D'you feel like you missed out on somethin', Johnnie...?" Yes, he steamrolls right over Rhapsody's attempt at social niceties.
Spicy: Spicy chuckles and yawns a bit. "Hmm, this feels like a possible call for me to head back home soon." she stretches left and right . "Do I have all of your phone numbers?"
Vorpal: "Oh, nah! Ask away! Worst case scenario, I tell you I'd rather not answer. What's the question?" Not one for shutting down chatter, this one.
"Oh, absolutely," she confirms for Jude. "Like I can remember fights being thrilling. But it was years ago, and I literally spent several OF those years searching for something that could actually give me a decent fight. Never did. It was super depressing."
"You'll have mine if you check the bulletin board. You don't seem the sort to need walked home, but I'll offer anyway, just so I ain't being rude. You gonna get home okay?"
Rhapsody: "I'm pretty sure you have mine." SHe says to Spicy, but rattles it off anyways, just in case, then she looks at Johnnie. "Do you ever, I'm sort of guessing not, but I'll ask anyways. Do you ever worry about being .. too much what you were, over there, or, ummm, too much like them now, with your lower case g and everything? How do you make sure you're -not- too much of those things?"
Gallowglass: Jude listens closely, brow furrowed; he nods to Spicy as she rises. "Sure, I'm pretty sure you got my number from th'other day. Get in touch with Lucia, don't forget."
He sobers as he listens to Rhapsody's questions; his gaze travels over the Fairest, some sort of protective understanding rising in his expression. He looks back to Johnnie for her response, guarded.
Spicy: "I won't forget." Spicy nods and smiles and then turn to Johnnie. "Thank you for offering, it's very nice of you." a nod "But I'm okay, I've actually been offering my own help to get people home recently, gotta get the bodyguard practice it."
Vorpal: "Good practice to be in. Stay safe out there, or at least have fun if you don't, yeah?" Johnnie grins, and waves farewell to Spicy- presuming she's taking her leave here, anyhow!
Johnnie pauses at the question Rhapsody lays out, then states with absolutely clarity-
"Oh, abso-fucking-lutely."
She gestures to herself, not a scrap of animosity to be seen. "You gotta understand, this? This me, this- Wyrdest-person-tied-with-Marjorie version of me? This took work. I had to tone it back. For two years. It took a shit ton of super boring discipline, using like zero magic, totally starving myself on glamour... I mean, jeez, I used to be able to maintain like- and this is not an exaggeration- over one hundred goblin fruits, all by myself. I used to just stockpile them, make them into little juices and tinctures and shit so they'd be easy to store and carry around, like- potions, sorta. These days, I'm lucky to manage a dozen. My store of magic is less than half what it used to be, and the rate I can use it is almost halved." Pause. "But."
She looks back to Rhapsody. The rest? She'd been almost bragging about, but this? She's dead serious. "When you're THAT much Story, when you've got THAT little person left, it's hard to THINK like a person. Feelings aren't motivations, they're requirements. Someone makes you angry, it's all you can do not to go to fucking war on the spot. Someone makes you feel good? Addictive." She shakes her head, shivers.
"It's still tough for me. I miss shit all the time, hurt my motley's feelings. It's exhausting. I think- they probably came close to getting tired of me, the way I used to be. Us getting separated, me having time to whittle that down on my own... if I had to guess, it probably saved my spot with Direct Action. I'm not sure they'd have been able to handle me like that any longer than they did."
Rhapsody: She takes all of that in and takes a deep breath, considering. "That sounds.. really hard. But, if you ever need help? Or you want to talk to someone maybe, pretty neutral, I'll definitely listen. Do you have any advice, like, if you could go back to when you first came out, besides diversifying what you learned, like, do you have any other advice for someone just starting out?" She looks at Johnnie, again, clearly getting a bit more comfortable.
Gallowglass: Gallowglass listens, jaw set beneath a troubled brow. He shakes his head finally, speaking up. "I don't know about that, Johnnie. I've met some of your motley, and what I've seen, how they treat even knew people - I just...can't see 'em givin' up on someone they care about. And if you're in a motley with 'em, they gotta care about you. You know 'em better'n I do, of course. But I just...I don't see it, that's all. Had t'be hard on you, that goin' on."
Vorpal: "It was." Johnnie confirms simply. "It was really, really hard. I thought I needed all that power." She just shakes her head slowly. "And I appreciate that, Sodypop. Thanks." She grins Rhapsody's way, nods once. "Man, that's a tricky question. Advice? Get comfortable. Own who you are, what you are. You didn't get to make yourself be who you are, but you get to make who that person becomes. Whether you lean into how you were changed, or buck the trend and do the total opposite, it's you at the wheel- own it. That'd be my advice, I think."
She's quiet while Jude talks, staring at the ground without saying a word. Finally, she just says, "Everyone's got a limit, man. And eventually, you take that kinda toll on the people care about you, you start asking yourself whether they deserve to have to put up with what you put them through. Something has to give. And if it ain't you, and it ain't the problem..." She trails off. Stands. Stretches. "But that's enough, I think, for one night, yeah? Should probably do another lap down the Trod before I head home for the morning. Y'all got anything else to ask before I bolt?"
Rhapsody: "No I just, it was nice meeting you. I'm sorry I was kind of scared when you came in, but, for what it's worth I think you're pretty cool. Hopefully we run into each other again sometime."
Gallowglass: Gallowglass breaks into a faint smile at that, glancing from Rhapsody back to Johnnie. "I have t'agree. Don't be a stranger, Johnnie. Thanks for answerin' our questions like that, th'perspective is damn helpful."
Vorpal: "Hey, you're welcome. One thing I learned by going and doing shit I'd never seen anyone do before was figuring out I wouldn'ta needed to if someone'd ever told me it was a bad fucking idea!" She laughs openly, true humor in her words, and snaps off a lazy salute at the two. "Deal. I'll see you lot around. Next time you see June, give her a hug for me, wouldja? She'll laugh if you tell her I sent her huggograms." And with that, she turns lazily on her heel and wanders back out onto the trods. "Later, gators! Stay safe, or have fun!"
Rhapsody: Rhapsody looks at Gallowglass and hops to her feet. "Well. Sounds like I need to walk you home, keep you safe and all that."
Gallowglass: "If you throw my butterknives at me when we get home, I'ma be very upset," he informs her; he does not, however, sound the least bit upset. "I know you don't like it in here, but you could stay at th'cabin."
Rhapsody: "Well see how the night goes. I don't dislike it here, I'm just getting used to it." She smiles at him. "I've been hanging out in hollow's more often. Like you said I should." She grins. "I wanna get good knives first. Not butter knives."
Gallowglass: "You know," he drawls, offering her an arm, "I do happen to know the best weaponsmith and artist in any Freehold." He bumps his brows, breaking into a broad grin. "Wait until I show you what he made me."
Rhapsody: "Does that mean he'll make something for me? I'd like to see it." She grins, taking his arm.
Gallowglass: "Yeah, I bet he would. He'd make you th'best throwin' knives you could get, anyway." He whisks her off to his cabin in the woods!
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