(Guilty of Dreaming) Coffee Corner

[Circe]

She laughed at Freya's response. "Nice ta meet ya and I like where yer heads at."

There were lines many Lost wouldn't cross and some that others leap. Queen Anne? She'd never treated any line of morality as naught but a jump rope. "Sorry ta say for this Quills that I ain't surprised. Usin' a kid as bait is somethin' that bitch'd. Don't know if she's lookin' fer Fetch parts or tryin' ta get in good with Privateers," the Summer growled. A pause. Tainted fruit? "Like that drug shit that's gettin' sold? Fanculo the bitch might have backup then," Circe snarls.

"That's a good idea Rhodes. I ain't exactly a dream warrior plus I'm sure she'd be pissed ta see me again. I'd be a decoy at best," Circe was starting to smile. It was not a friendly smile but she was excited, "Bein' an assassin sounds better. Gives me an idea. Ya lot find where she at through Dreams. One of ya can throws the fight ta wake up. Ya call me. I stop by with a silencer and ya get ta tell me what happens ta her in the dreams when her body dies, oh ho ho ho!"

Penance gets a scowl from Circe. "How long ya talkin' here? I mean," she nods, "I'd love ta get somethin' ta just snipe her," the scowl softens, "Especially if she has backup. Okay, I'll agree with ya there Penance. A few days and I'll have a couple a' ways ta kill the bitch."

ooc Saber Sloth what does Circe recall about Queen Anne from her time with the Rogue's Gallery?

[Saber Sloth]

Circe remembers that Queen Anne is a Wizened Fetch Maker. One deeply connected to the Wyrd. San Francisco's Autumn Queen, although according Echo who has passed through San Francisco on her way to Sacramento Queen Anne had been driven out of her Freehold, but no one is certain if the Leaden Crown has abandoned Queen Anne. She embodies Fear and Magic might, and that is what the Wyrd cares for, not the morality of those things.

The Summer Elf will also remember Iron Meg, Queen Anne's right hand. An Ogre, giant and metal skinned, and through Oaths and trickery. Magic and Clarity warping loyalty, it is unlikely that Queen Anne, as Circe knew her, served under her, would be content with only one underling. She might have recreated a Court.

...or at least a Motley.

[Ingrid]

Ingrid moved from the door.

"I can help in the Dream if you are looking for back up."

[Rhodes]

"I'm sure Lady Ingrid has many talents," Rhodes says wth a small smile, looking beween Lucifer and Penance. "You're both sure? Then witht hat picture, I have all I need to detect the next dream she will have that will lead us to her predator."

He turns to Circe. "It seems we have a plan. I should point out, Lady Circe, this will not enforce the dream, only tell me when the next dream of such a kind will happen, within the next few weeks. This makes it easier to reach the dream in question across the Skein." He pauses. "Although given your description of Queen Anne, I doubt it will be long before the next one, though a few more days will allow the others to recoup. Fighting in the Dream can be very taxing on the mind."

He inclines his head to the Spring Queen for her offer. "I will be ready to go into the Dreaming then, along with Freya, Lady Ingrid, and any other volunteers. Blink would also be willing, I think. Peter, perhaps. I think, Penance, that depending on how long we have you should consider backing up Circe. In case Anne is not alone on this side."

Rhodes lapses into thoughtful silence. Is he really happy with this? Murder? That's what it is. Willful planning of killing another Lost. Is she really a Changeling, though? She makes Fetches... tortures us... she is more like the Gentry than one of us, and that cannot stand. An example must be made, and if Circe is all to willing to pull the trigger, so be it.

He looks to the assembled ladies. "The trick for the Dreamers will be dragging Anne's earthly location from her while the Dream. She will not part with such information freely."

[Freya]

She-Who-Stalks regards Circe with a feral stare, but the Stalker has enough sense to nod a greeting. It is still Freya after all. Just less... inhibited. At the talk of the impending hunt, Freya's taloned hands flex with want. Or was it need?

Then Rhodes reminds the group that the idea is not foolproof. Locking the location of Queen Anne was not a guarantee, even if they succeeded in confronting her. The thought made the Beast's feathers bristle lightly with irritation. The Stalker knew they would need the Den Mother for this. She stood a chance in swaying the Dream, but She-Who-Stalks rarely had the patience for such things. Thus, Freya looked to Circe with jealousy, for in her heart of hearts, she had wanted the kill to be hers.

Nonetheless, the Stalker settled down after a few more moments. Irritating as it was, the Freehold needed her for another capacity. Freya, however, was not a master of the Dream, only really making use of her Contract for ease in Harvesting. It's much easier to gain the Harvest when you can make Man dream about their desires. Still she had agreed to help... and that was something the Stalker would respect. Even if it meant it could not be coated in blood.

[Circe]

"Absolute worst case scenario is she kept her crown, cause that'd be fucking great," Circe decided to throw in that horrid possibility. "She used ta bind a Lost ta her with Pledges that'd be warp theur loyalty. If ya see a metal Ogre lady that'd be Iron Meg. One of her favorites she'd probably have tried ta keep." Circe ran her hand through her hair and gave a frustrated sigh.

She slid her hand down her face as she growled in frustration, "Arrogant, cazzo puttana egoista imporante] would never settle fer not havin' minions ta boss around. Took ta her title waaaay too much," Circe growled, "I really wish I'd kept somethin' automatic. Or several somethings," the blueberry chuckles, "I suppose I could just get a bunch o' bottles and gasoline," she grins weakly at Penance "But a team sounds rather keen," Circe sighed, "So Penance?"

She waits for acknowledgement. Circe gives Penance a wide tooth filled smile, "They get at least four fer the Dream Team. Anyone ya wanna ask ta help round out Team Kickass?"

[Lucifer]

"In order to enter a dream, you have to be present. That means we need to go to the Hospital either way, whether we wish to catch Queen Anne and her underlings, or to track her through the dreams," Lucifer pointed out.

[Rhodes]

The Flowering man smiles at Circe. "No such thing as over-preparation. Call your whole court if you feel it necessary. I doubt we want to underestimate this enemy."

Perhaps Nana and I will get out Autumn Hunt after all! I'm sure she would love an opportunity to look at such an individual in detail...

Rhodes nods along to Lucifer's reminder, holding up a finger at the end with a look of smug self-assuredness. "Mostly true, my dear Lucifer. Normally one must have both dreamer present and be within the Hedge to enter a dream, you are right... And yet. There are means around this. Means I possess, by which we can enter a Dreaming state in a secure Holllow, and traverse the paths of Dreams until we enter Riley's dream."

The Fairest smiles at the gathered ladies. "I shall perform the Oneiroscope today, once we adjourn. It will take a few hours for a good result. Then I will tell you all of the date her next dream will appear. Doing this at the right time, when the type of Dream we seek is forming... It seems to me that the pull you all first experienced during your last trip will make this far easier than a standard path through the Dreams, though that remains to be seen."

He looks at the maps, papers, and guns. "We have a plan. I suggest we prepare as best we may. Lady Circe, if you plan the strike, I will arrange the Dream Team, as it were. Do we have anything else that might refine our strategy?" He asks to the room at large.

[Freya]

Clarity begins to pool in Stalker's mind as Rhodes and the others begin to formulate a plan.

"My Contracts allow me to Forge the dreams of dreamers without needing to be nearby," she offers, her voice still tainted with feral intent, "but Lucifer is right... this is more complex than that."

Looking to Rhodes, she frowns, "I am not a skilled oneiromancer, but... I can try. However, if you feel that Circe needs a Hunter, my claws will happily oblige." The latter end of the statement ends with a wicked smile worming its way across the Hunterheart's face as she glances to the Summer Queen, "Or... if our elfin friend has a picture of our prey, I can use my Contracts to harry this Queen Anne and grant her visions promising her coming Death. Weaken her resolve. it's a risk considering her power, but no good Hunt is without such things."

Then there is a pause, before She-Who-Stalks looks to Rhodes, "The choice is your's, Huntmaster. Either way, you may know that She-Who-Stalks hunts with you and there will be blood on the wind." Despite the promise of violence, the voice of the Stalker coos, almost in some twisted sense to reassure or comfort. She is still Mother Talons, after all.