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Artie had to ask himself again why he put himself in these scenarios. Chewing at his bottom lip he supposed it was his stupid Winter resolution. He'd promised to step up and do more for the freehold, but why did it have to involve public speaking?
Moaning slightly, the domovoi adjusted a tray of snacks on a table and rested a hand on the cooler of punch yet again to make sure it was chilling.
He just wanted things to go off without a hitch, but it was hard to feel qualified to lead his friends. He kept telling himself that this was how leaders did it though. Someone stood up and took the initiative. The freehold needed this.
As people filtered in, Artie waved hello and leaned against the table at front. He could do this.
"O-ok folx. Hi. I'm Artie but uh… you all knew that… um so… we're all here because we want to be the rapid response people in emergencies. There are a lot of threats and goings on in our territory and not every Lost is equipped to handle them. S-so our goal has to be getting to people in need and getting them to safety or solving problems in a hurry." The shy guy begins.
"So the first thing we have to address is that this job is gonna be hard on us. Physically and mentally. We might have to do things that hurt our clarity so everyone needs to understand and be prepared for that. We might have to take people who don't want to be taken. We might have to kill people. We might have to stop people from hurting themselves. So I need everyone to ask themselves if those are things you can handle the consequences of now. If not, the door is back there."
Avery was wearing their airpods. Did it look a bit disrespectful? Maybe. Did it keep them from having sensory overload? YES. Thank you Maria, you're the best.
They still had Nevertread on, and were sitting near the back, keeping a half eye on the whole crowd, still on edge. At the warning, they didn't move. They were ready for it, and gave a little supportive thumbs up if Artie ever looked at them.
By definition, anyone whose job is Chief Secret Murderer and who can raise the Hue and Cry kinda already is an emergency response person. So Teagan is just sort of... here. Already.
He sits at one of the tables, chair tipped back onto its back legs, feet up on the table and lazily crossed at the ankles. Of course it looks precarious - that's probably the point. He holds an amber glass bottle in their left hand and takes a lazy sip out of it. The Mirrorskin doesn't really react to the opening salvo of Artie's talk, as if everything the Wizened says is self-evident.
Sip.
Aurelio was among those gathered, having claimed a seat at one of the tables. He listened intently to Artie's opening speech, nodding in the right places and giving the young Wizened a reassuring look.
Ylva was sitting next to Avery, head on their shoulder. Listening intently as Artie speaks. Looking around when they aren't. Being a curious fox.
Liv is sitting on the other side of Avery on the outside of the crowd, uncharacteristically still and quiet for the normally high energy Summer.
Ed was leaning against a wall, nodding at the Wizeneds words
Watching keenly as always, Artie offers the group a little nod as everyone stands their ground.
Seeing a few gestures of encouragement, he smiles just a little, reassured.
"Alright. That moves us to the second most important aspect: execution. This has two important aspects, getting there aka the rapid part of the title. Philly is big. We're all over the place and that's not even accounting for the hedge. This is technically an always on call sort of deal. We need to be able to get pretty much anywhere and do it fast. Consider how you can do that and if you've got the ability to drop everything and go to someone's aid."
He gives the group a moment. " The second aspect is doing this quietly. We are still the Lost. We can't afford to be loud and get caught in what we do. Sure we have ways to deal afterwards but it's easiest on us all if there's not evidence in the first place. We all don't need to be masters of stealth. You just gotta be mindful of your aurroundings. Cameras and people are everywhere. So are the Mark IIs. We don't need excess attention."
Looking around he raises a brow. " Are these going to be issues anyone needs help with? "
"Know who your Truebalms are, and who's got the contracts that will let you look after your minds as well as your bodies. Don't go out with your ass hanging out of your pants on your Clarity. You don't want to be risking a collapse, or an entire group getting lost in the Hedge or pulling the attention of a Mark II because your head's all backwards and can't tell your dick from a hole in the ground." Teagan leans back a little bit, the legs of his chair creaking, and takes another swallow from the bottle dangling from their left hand. He ticks his tongue against the roof of his mouth, tips his chin up towards Artie.
Avery leans over to Ylva, mumbling quietly to her, not anywhere near confident enough to speak to a crowd like Artie is managing.
"Clarity...a bit. We are fast though? And we tend to stay up late?"
She nods her head. "Yeah."
Eyes wide, Artie looks apprehensively at Avery and Ylva's whispering.
"Uhm... D-did I say something wrong?" He asks quietly. "It is really important that the whole team be on the same page... "
"You're good, Artie." Teagan's voice comes as a rumbling reassurance, and he tips his bottle towards the domovoi in a little salute. "People gonna chitchat during meetings. If they wanted to be heard, they'd speak up."
Avery looks embarrassed, sinking into the chair more, and a bit away from Ylva. Not looking quite as close. Avery spoke quietly and nervously, as was normal.
"Sorry...I... was a little worried about... Clarity."
"I can aid both the body and mind, on that front." Aurelio chimed in, looking at those gathered. "I can get around the city easily enough as well."
"Sorry Artie." A tail reaching out to reassure Avery.
"Was just checking we were good on the Clarity front."
Glancing to Teagan, the wizened gives a little nod understanding, a wave of relief washing over his pale features.
When Avery pipes up after sinking back, Artie blushes a little, getting the vibe. He grins lightly as Aurelio chimes in too. "Ok good. See? People are willing to help you keep it together. Clarity is hard to keep a hold of for everybody because it can be tough to tell when it's slipping. It's even harder to predict when a trigger is gonna come along too." He paces a little as he starts to consider.
"So for Clarity I'd suggest two things. First, figure out the people or places that ground you to the real world and make part of your routine to spend time with them once a week. More if it's being real tough."
He then gestures towards the machete swinging darkling. "Teagan already said to find our Truebalms but also find a good darkling friend. One of the Mirror contracts can gauge clarity so they can keep a good eye on you. Pretty sure it protects your mind a little when they do too."
The Mirrorskin ticks their tongue against the roof of their mouth and fires fingerguns at Artie, probably because he can't wink, on account of, you know. Not having eyes. His broken-mirror eyepits glitter with caught light.
Avery gives a nod.
"Okay...thank you...I will definetly spend more time with them."
Aurelio nodded along with the advice, not having much more to add at the moment. He did make a mental note of the Darkling-aided facet, mulling over who he could speak to on that front.
Smiling brightly, Artie offers Avery a thumbs up of his own.
"Alright. Then the next bit is a bit of audience participation. Sorry. So out in the field we'll need to function like a well oiled machine. In order to do that, we need to know each others capabilities. It's so everyone can be deployed into tasks they're good for. You should also mention stuff you do not think you'd be good for."
He gestures to a whiteboard beside him. And draws a quick little picture. Stick figure bird person and a stick figure with a machete on either side of a dead stick figure.
"A lot of us are used to going it alone. For example, Teagan and Avery. You're both stealthy atabby people. What if you're both invisible and going for the same guy? You both stab him but we didn't need him dead. Or you go for the same guy at once and invisibly run into each other cuz you didn't know the other was there. Or let's say we need ranged support to blow the tires on someone's get away car and I send Aurelio the puncher man not knowing he didn't have any ranged options to call on?"
" Consider your skillsets and contracts. Not just your combat skills either."
Ed raised a hand, "So, my contracts are across the board, Mirror, Autumn, some Sword, Shield, Crown, Steed and a Jewel." he shrugged, "I like being able to adapt," he offered, "I'm good at Hedge Dueling, a good sense of the Hedge, Dreamscaping, and got myself a trusty steed," he smirked, "Which can be called on the Iron Side as well as the Hedge, can handle myself well in a scrap."
Avery nods, looking at Teagan.
"I am...very good at attacking from the shadows...I am very quiet. I am also...a good scout, I see a lot. It is...hard to surprise me. That is where...most of my skills are. I am decent at hedgespinning and hard to hit... but if I'm hit I don't do well. Sometimes...a single well placed hit takes me out of a fight."
There is a squeeze to Avery from a tail.
"I need to relearn how to fight so I'm not the best on that front. Can move through the hedge fairly well, decent at social better at intimidation. Goblins see a sliver of Them when they see me. I have a fruit farm and am. Yeah."
Ed looks to Ylva, "Same, they mistake me for one often."
"Technically, I'm a stealthy slashy person," the Mirrorskin corrects with a lazy smile. "And if we're going after someone via stealth, that's where it's actually my job to lead and make the decision on how we approach that. I'm glad that you're arranging things, Artie, but please also keep in mind that some of us have defined Freehold positions where anyone involved with this initiative will need to consult with us about missions." They turn their hand palm up, a lazy shrug. "I didn't work to become Unseen Sun for three years to have someone say in a meeting that I'd be so bad at the job that I would not account for others on a mission with me."
He stays balanced on the back legs of the chair he's sitting in until he finishes his drink, and then it thumps forward, the Darkling pouring upward out of the chair and up to his feet to go drop off the glass bottle in the recycling bin and get another beer. Teagan bites that open and spits the cap into the bin, too.
"What I am willing to disclose is that I can look and sound like anyone, strike Unseen, find anyone anywhere, lie to anyone about anything, and make anybody I want to like me and tell me things to want to tell me those things."
"Oh," he adds, pushing up the sleeve of his charcoal leather coat and turning his arm up so that the tattoos on the inside of his arm are visible, black ink floating on his opalescent skin, "And I'm good at working with groups." The tattoos are a Viking shield, three animal footprints, an autumn leaf, an ice cube, and an 8-bit heart.
Liv sits, but still speaks. "I'm very fast, I'm tough, and I can hit hard. Simple as that."
"I do not work at range much, that is true." Aurelio replied with an amused look, listening to the others go through their specialties before offering his own. "Martially I am equal in both unarmed and armed combat, with a preference to grappling and swords for each. Not so stealthy but I can manage, and can move through the hedge quite well."
"As far as weavings as I said I can heal both the body and mind, along with many of the Sword's gifts including tracking others and the more martial effects. I can also bless equipment and do quick repairs through the Jewel."
Looking down sheepishly, the domovoi nods to Teagan. "Right. Yeah. Sorry. I didn't mean to step on your feet. That was a bad example. Sorry.... Sorry."
He then listens quietly and intently to the others as they self assess.
"I suppose it's only fair that I answer too. I guess... I'm a bit of a generalist. I do a little bit of a lot of things. I consider myself a problem solver and a strategist. I like making plans and using whatever's around me to get stuff done. I can fight close and middle range, I can take a hit. I can track. I can even do a little sneaking. I can help make my friends better at doing their stuff. Oh and I can make, break, and fix just about anything," he seems to think a little more. "I'm good in the hedge but I'm not really fast. At least not like some of you. I like hedgespinning. Not good with animals or people really. Don't know computers more than how to use 'em and I didn't go to much school so I don't know all that high schooly stuff."
The Mirrorskin slings himself back into his chair, leaning back on two legs and then balancing on one. Now he's just showing off. "We're good, kid," he assures Artie.
Avery nods, staying close to Ylva.
"I... am more awake at night... if that is helpful?"
"It could be. Though we should be an anytime response team. We all know time is meaningless over There. To our enemies, it doesn't suddenly become meaningful because they're operating here. Even if they're using agents."
Taking in a deep breath he continues. "Tactically, everyone knows you strike when someone is most vulnerable. For the freehold, that's those moments when you let your guard down. When you least expect. For most, that is at night when we sleep. But it's also when you're heading home from a long day of work. Rushing in the morning to get somewhere, mind on that singular task. Out shopping with a friend. Grabbing your weekly groceries at the same place yet again. We gotta go when the call goes out."
"Which brings me to my only other major point. Everyone should get outfitted and check with me or the Quartermaster or your favorite crafter. Make sure you have supplies, weapons, and armor for different occassions. Everyone knows I'm a spear guy but I don't take those everywhere. That's why I keep knives. Any shirt is armor for me, but not everyone has my tricks. We're the people the freehold expects to be prepared, so get prepared and stay that way. Make a go time bag or two. Keep them in your cars or at your jobs and houses. Our vigilance will help our friends."
"I'm a sword man myself, preferably Rapiers." Ed comments, "What kind of supplies do you have in mind?"
"Proper shoes, masks, gloves, holsters, belt pouches, ID. Whatever. Consider your contracts and what you might need for loopholes and how you can keep them with or near you. You like swords? Do you have an inconspicuous carrying case or something for it? How about burner phones? Stuff like that." Artie lists
Avery does that awkward half hand raise for a half idea, but puts it down a moment later. Not sure of asking.
"Yes? It's ok to ask questions. I promise. Its what this is for." The wizened assures with asmile
"I would like... some armor... but I'm not very strong." Avery looks nervous asking that publicly.
Ed raises a hand, "Sometimes when I'm about and feel trouble, my hand reaches for a sword that's not their so an inconspicuous way to keep it on me would be nice."
“Keeping crafting jobs within the Freehold is probably a good idea but if you want a third party contact that can be trusted I got my armor from the ‘Sleepwalker’ known as Phyx. I believe his contact information can be found at Maddy’s.”
Timing is everything, sometimes. A slender ball-jointed doll of a woman with long, sleek dark hair arrives, carrying a large tray of cupcakes in all sorts of wild colors, made to look like unicorn heads and fluffy red pandas and like the head of a vampire finch is poking out of the top of the cupcake and so on. She carefully balances the tray on one porcelain hand despite its weight, and weaves her way through to set it down on the table. "Hello, Arthur Phoenix. I am sorry that the cupcakes are late, Peter says the polite explanation is to say that I had a mishap with the frosting." Doll reaches a hand up to scratch at the side of her neck, and a little dried frosting crumbles off of her white skin and onto her baby pink t-shirt with the words stay out of my kitchen on the front in shimmery gold letters.
"You are talking about specialized armor and arms. I am the Quartermaster for Summer Court. Arthur Phoenix is very skilled with making arms and armor. Also Sigrún Ljosdottir but I don't know if she's taking new work because maybe standing over the fire and inhaling all that smoke is bad for her baby that she is currently incubating. I think she is manufacturing tastebuds and eyes and that is very important for eventually eating food including the cupcakes which are for everybody. I have made them so they are free of the eight most common allergens. Also Lucia Diaz is very good at repairing things and her business is good at repairs but I think she may also make new things. I think that is all of the names I can remember of people who make armor. I can do it also because I can make anything very well but I am very busy and anyway Arthur and Sigrún are more specialized than me at it."
She picks up a unicorn cupcake and her hinged jaw opens so she can bite the head off of the marshmallow unicorn on top of her cupcake.
The inside of the marshmallows are red.
After she swallows the marshmallow, she adds, "I did not mean that Sigrún's baby would eat these cupcakes, because they will be stale by then, so do not try to save one for him. Instead you should eat them all, because I only meant theoretical cupcakes."
"I would also like some."
Though she cuts off as Doll, well. Exists and let's them finish.
"Id also like some armor, if. That's, well. Possible."
Aurelio looked to Doll as she entered the meeting space, eyeing the cupcakes curiously while listening intently to the Elemental speak. The mention of Sigrun expecting earned a quick upwards quirk of the eyebrow and a mental note was made for a future project before giving a nod. "Could do with some armor as well."
Avery pauses as the quartermaster appears. Nodding and looking to Ylva, whispering.
"Can you get me a cupcake?"
And then that news drops and Avery blinks in surprise, nodding.
"Armor would be nice, probably something light weight." He mused before blinking at the news, "Congratulations to them." He smiled
"Well those are the names of many people who can assist you, and if you do not find the custom items that you are hoping for, then also there is the person that Olivia mentioned and you can come and talk to me," declares Doll. Her tone of voice never changes, really -- it's a clean monotone. "Thank you for running the meeting, Arthur, I am going to go and bring in the rest of the food because I did make food that has better nutritional value and not just cupcakes since it is important to eat food that contains protein and vitamins and fiber, those things are all important for muscles, organs and tendons, okay bye." She turns rather precisely on her heel and heads back towards the entrance.
Artie smiles brightly as do the lights when he sees Doll. His ears give a little wiggle as she talks.
He nods as she finishes. "She has a good point. Let's all let Sigrun rest. She's done plenty for the freehold and totally deserves some sit down time. Granted she probably won't even if we tell her to..." He shrugs. "Regardless, I can handle everyone's armoring needs. For now we have plenty of spare and usable pieces in the Summer hollow to get peeps by while I get all the measurements and get the work done. I'll aim for more sheer kevlar like things so it can be worn under normal clothes for the most part. It'll be light and a lot less noticeable.
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