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Avery was sitting near the middle of the freehold hollow, nervously checking their knives every little bit to make sure they were still there. Of course they were, but it was a relief to know. They had a small baggie with flash drives on their lap and were eating some food, a bit too worried to eat out in public right now. They currently had airpods in to help with sensory overload, but their feathers were puffed up a little bit, showing just how anxious they were.
Ylva had heard them come in and stirred from their sleep. Eventually crawling over and flopping their head in Averys lap.
"Hey. You."
Joy makes her way into the Freehold Hollow, wearing loose black jogging pants, a black hoodie, fiddling with a few knives. She is small and made out of tree branches trimmed down in the shape of a woman, a core of stone and green gems makes up her eyes.
There's something a little different about how Joy seems to act now than how she does other times. She approaches the already present Losts, greeting them from a distance and waving. "Hey, anyone knows where I can find someone who knows shit about the slaver thing?"
Avery looks down at Ylva, scritching gently between her ears.
"I heard what happened, are you okay Ylva? Do you need anything?"
Avery heard the movement of tree branches approaching and their head immediately pop up to look at Joy, on edge but relaxing eventually.
"I am being hunted by one, I have been reporting to Sentinel Ljosdottir with what I can. I was going to give some information to Direct Action in a bit."
"This is nice. Thanks. I was too jittery to stay Ironside."
She waves at Joy a tired smile.
"Hey Bonsly."
From the trod came a figure walking. It was a walk, even as the Hedge tried to distract them. Immediately recognizable was the fact that the Crown was upon them. As the grey-cowled woman arrives at the Freehold Hollow proper, she waved and acknowledged those who she passed.
The Queen, especially crowned, seemed to be infinitely taller than her five feet and two inches in height.
On her person was a belt that held a card deck pouch, and in her hand was a sweet smelling goblin fruit which she finished eating with a few final bites beneath the mourning shroud.
Marjorie the Shrouded says no words to those present, other than acknowledging with nods or hand signals.
"I'm the one who posted an addendum to the message. Something in this mess is connected in how I got turned into a tree and I can make things better." Joy says. "I might have some contract I can use to get some more information, if you'd let me."
Ylva's greeting gets a smirk out of the Bonsai in spite of the seriousness. "Hi, sorry, weird mood."
Joy turns to Marjorie when she notices her, having being startled by the quiet presence a bit too late. She return a somewhat awkward wave and an awestruck stare.
"I understand. I am...worried about being near Vincent or Maria right now."
Avery freezes when they recognize the Winter Crown, almost disappearing into the shadows a bit. Having once been a Winter Courtier, Avery has done a fair number of things for Winter...but its still a sight to see the current monarch of the Freehold.
"Um...I'd be okay with a contract to find out more. I um...need to..." Avery looks at the flashdrive and at Marjorie, frozen in social anxiety.
Ylva chuckles.
"Sorry. Couldn't resist."
She curls into Averys lap.
"Im just worried. I didn't realise they knew who we were taken by."
"I am here, not just as Queen," her voice, though seemingly a whisper, carried through the freehold, "but as a member of the freehold responding to the Hue and Cry and seeking information. There are those who would tell me and it is their job to do it, and I still wish to hear the words myself. Please, be free to speak as if you saw me at the Waffle House."
"So, I'm going to see what my Portents and Visions can tell me about your future. If you can avoid resisting it, that would be helpful, if that's not possible, well, let's hope I win." Joy smiles, taking a deep breath and starting to walk around Avery: "I found a receipt for my sale and burnt it at the winter bonfire, I cried tears made out of everything but water and met with Ylva, played a game of dart and score 69 points..." and the rambling goes faster and faster as Joy invokes the contracts, her eyes shines white after about a minute of rattling a seemingly incoherent list of names, events, Person, man, camera, TV.
"I didn't either...thats news to me as well...we should...tell Queen Marjorie..."
Avery pokes Ylva to try to get up. Also to have a buddy to go with.
"You can do whatever contract you need...if it keeps my family safe."
Avery does walk off slightly to go to the Queen, kneeling and bowing their head.
"I am Avery Frisk, Page of High Noon and I was formerly a Page of the Long Midnight. I am...the one who alerted Sentinel Ljosdottir to the threat. I have information I wish to share."
Ylva slowly wriggled her way up. Sulking a little. But following along behind her. Bowing and nodding to the Queen.
"Please, all, friends and freeholders all. I am the Crown, it is true, for a few weeks more. I am here to hear the words from the source, as the horn was blown. Please continue."
A bit of hesitation, looking to Ylva for support.
"Myself and my lovers are in danger. The Privateer left talon marks on our front door two nights ago, has been following those close to me, and has left white feathers similar to my own at places I frequent. My partner helped look into them last night, and found both a location and a name." Avery pulls out one of the flash drives.
"All of the video footage we have is on here. Her name is Aubrey, and there may be more Privateers working with her, and they likely have a Hedgegate there." Avery has started to ramble nervously.
Rainbow [She/Her] ASYNC me Daddy — Today at 2:39 PM
Ylva adds in.
"I was out shopping and they dropped coins around me stamped with the name of my Gentry."
Marjorie simply backs away, into some shadows of her own, to let others speak freely. She didn't invoke invisibility or any other tricks, and yet without her speaking it was easy to almost forget her presence.
Joy is still rambling about random things with white glowing eyes as her contracts seems to be giving her some information. "For the low price of 1 fuck per day, you too can earn RAZOR LEAF!"
Changeling contracts can get weird
"I would like to learn razor leaf please."
Avery looks worried when Marjorie backs off, sitting down on the ground and taking deep breaths. They look for 5 things they can see, mumbling under their breath.
"I see two of you, Avery. Both covered in blood, a Lonely, broken hearted copy of you. Full of vengeance and anger. A motel with 6 written everywhere." Joy makes the statement, taking a deep breath. [Avery and I gain Informed (Avery's meeting) and Avery gain the Steadfast condition]
A look toward Ylva: "Honestly, look into learning Elemental Weapon, you could probably do something like it."
Joy takes a seat on the ground, like Marjorie and looks toward the Queen. "So, what's your favorite pokemon?" The Queen did say to treat her like they met at the Waffle house.
A tilt of the head towards Joy's question, and Marjorie seems to be deeply considering the answer.
Avery's face drains, or well...it would if it weren't already so pale. The shock is evident.
"The one that survives...does it have light or dark hair? Or...I don't have that contract. What else is there?"
"Oh. That seems smart. Thats a good point."
She looks towards Avery offering a tail to squeeze.
"You're both alive in what I saw, just bloodied. And it's really the kind of anger and hate that stems from the broken heart." Joy explains, leaning forward.
"I know the future can change, one of you could die or both of you could, or this could not happen."
Her attention does drift back to Marjorie considering her question, interested in the answer, but not on putting pressure on the Crown.
Avery blinks, which is strange when their pupils take up most of their eyes, watching them contract and expand is kinda...freaky.
"I- I..." they look very worried, and look in the direction of the entrance to the Hollow.
"Who's broken heart? Both of us? One of us?"
"The copy of you."
"Your fetch? Thats. Okay."
Avery shakes their head. "No, no. My Fetch is not...they aren't a privateer. They are...a parent and...this is someone else. I don't know. Maria said she saw someone like me with dark hair...but it wasn't me."
"Are you okay? Need me to get you anything?" Joy says, weirdly unmoving, not really looking toward anyone after getting lost in thought for a moment.
"Are you okay little bird?"
Avery shakes their head to all the questions, not answering verbally.
It takes a minute before Joy moves again and stand up, dusting herself a bit. "I'll be available for additional help, I throw a mean pointy thing. Take care of your mind space before diving back into this."
Ylva nods to Joy.
"Thank you."
Then turns back to Avery. Opening her arms to offer a hug.
Avery nods in acknowledgement to Joy, then leans over into the hug from Ylva.
Ylva holds Avery. Stroking their head with one of her hands and her back with a tail.
Avery holds one of her tails. Speaking quietly.
"Thank you...I'm worried about them. Maria and Vinny..."
"Yeah. I know. Trust me. I know."
She squirms slightly. Continuing the stroking. Holding them close.
Joy starts pacing around slowly, just not to stay immobile.
Avery preens at the strokes, happy.
"Are you...okay?" Directed at the Winter.
Ylva just continues holding them, as long as they need it. Her eyes eventually flickering to Joy.
"I am, just, I take root if I stay still too long." She explains (rest well!)
"I understand. Have you ever tried flying?" Avery continues to lay on the other Beast, flopped out on the ground, cradling the flash drives.
"I wanted to fly before. Go to space even." Joy respond, looking up. "But I think i'll keep my roots on the ground for now."
Avery looks up. "I don't think I could fly to space. I think I would get tired before that...and couldn't breathe there."
"Yeah me either, but, you know. I had dreams and shit." Joy speaks peacefully. "Been working on maybe trying not to dwell on that too much and maybe resolve what I miss about ... back then instead of just clinging to stuff and mementos."
"Brain's been boiling over with stuff. I'm not so sure how to use that."
Avery nods, watching in the distance for anyone else they need to talk to.
"My promise to myself at the solstice was to make more friends and be with them instead of...dwelling on There. I've...been trying." Avery gestures to the currently passed out fox.
"Good. I'll be heading out for a bit, I'll see you later at the Superb Owl." Joy takes her leave, unable to stay in place a moment.
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