(1611) Eternal Seasons Luncheon

[Morgan Bellanar]

Morgan caught Mhairi's look, looking her Queen in the eye. Morgan gave the slightest of nods in acknowledgement. A musician in the Freehold was a true boon. Better then one of them trying to wing it. And Sera had an interest in climbing? The Steepscrambler beamed a smile at that: "Heh, tis good excercise and useful too boot. Heh, nary an alley tis a dead end if ye can scale out of it fast..." she looked down at her claws then back up at Sera, "Heh, though wall running ain't a thing they allow much at Pipeworks, heh-heh."

"Heh, oh indeed yes Mhairi. And L'Aire? I shant say tis a heh heel or a scale, but we've something that might be of use, yes...and totally better then, heh, plans I'd held a'fore that'd work heh-heh, uh, heh-heh, whilst feasible could've uh...way too many cops." Morgan was quite nervous about admitting that. She also tried to mouth to L'Aire, "details later" as best she could.

Morgan gave a defeated sigh, "And, uh, bastard lizard ain't been, heh, that inactive," she shudders in memory of having encountered him in the dreamscape. "Yeah," she winced and gave Mhairi a knowing look. This was a meeting that'd be rough later.

She shakes her head at Alex's question, "I hath nay any ideas Alex, yet I do ken normans who live upon the streets. Well, heh, I can talk with the least violent ones. Might be a few 'lings can stick out if I ask around," she tilted her head and winced, "which could freak 'em out heh and send them running. Aaaand club speak ain't ken to those not in the Freehold, heh...Anyone think of a code or trail sign to spread about, heh, to direct new 'lings, heh, to us?"

[Malcolm Green]

"There is... some lore..." Green rumbled.

Actually, there was a fair bit - but that was for the ears of the Onyx alone. At one time he'd patrolled the streets of the Freehold, looking for signs of danger and signs of those fresh from the Hedge. Winter did not advertise that it had a special eye directed to watching for those just returned from their Durance.

"I can draw up some signs. Anyone can drop 'em about town or where you find a gate that looks half active, yeah."

[Nathan Griffin]

Something big had been going on right under his nose, it looked like. He frowned and glanced at his fellow Courtiers, trying to piece together what was going on. It seemed like they knew how to slay the dragon... or at least they thought they did. He had found that cynicism paid more often than not.

"Should not have left those privateers back there just like that," he told Alex and Malcolm. "They would know about anyone who was... MIA around these parts."

[Swami M]

Alex nods at Nathan's comment. "Maybe. But getting back through the Hedge with prisoners in tow would have been a nightmare. And holding them here would not be easy, as shorthanded as we are."

[Malcolm Green]

"Sad but true. By the end there was only us three. Yeah, we lost Ramona running interference back up the trail. And the chef was in bad shape, too. We couldn't have handled them Privateer's if we wanted to. Best leave 'em to the hobs, you know?" Green nodded.

"But Nathan's right. Maybe we should have questioned 'em a little first." He nodded over to his motley mate. "Its done, now. Don't mean we can't learn from it. Maybe we should head back out and see how that hob town is doing?"

[Morgan Bellanar]

"Cool! Thank ye Green, heh-heh" Morgan gave the mountain a thumbs up at his offer. That'd make things go smoother. Her good mood followed at the mention of privateers. "Ye left the privateers with, heh, hobs?" The amount of hatred with which Morgan said privateer would seem surprising given how she'd been acting. She had plenty of reason to hate them, "Heh, hope they executed the slavers," the venom got worse.

Morgan dialed down the venom as she changed subjects, "I'll ask, heh, about crazy hobos, might turn up one of us or just a nutter or two. I'll, heh, post Green's signs around any gets I sense."

[Cayce]

"Since we're going to be advertising for our little immigration project," Morgause piped up, "I'm curious how we're planning to cope if we do suddenly triple our population? Someone wanting to establish a power base might find a city with such a low population very appealing to establish their new territory."

A small grin appeared as the Cat Queen said this, still idly stroking the mouse held captive in the palm of her hand.

"Just something to ponder during the coming nights. I'm sure it won't be a problem, but you never know what lies beyond the shadow of the new moon."

She raised the mouse up towards her lips then, making soft cooing noises to the little animal before suddenly dropping it back into its box.

"I'd also suggest considering an immigration tax,"she added, closing the box up and rising to her feet. "You can't swell coffers that don't exist, after all, so this might be your chance to actually buy some."

Closes in 48 Hours!

[Mhairi Ankaa]

Mhairi blinks, her fell-flames flickering at L'aire's vehement response. "Dormant doesn't mean dead." says Mhairi. If she weren't Queen she would have stayed silent, but she was, so she wouldn't. "As for his Achilles heel...did you even listen to my metaphor?" Surly it wasn't out of the realm of probability that the Queen to the Court of Fear, and Fae Magics to be able to find the Dragon's Bane?

Or did L'aire think that little of her?

Or was it just that the Dancer thought she'd Usurped Autumn's Crown from Rick...Mhairi swallowed. This was why she needed to talk to the Winters!

She catches, Morgan's looks and nods. The way that they've been acting should have been a giant red flag that there was something up!

Mhairi chews her lip before remembering she still has a sandwich to eat, and so she turns to that and listens to the guys talk. "That's what happened to Ramona?" Mhairi asks, she just thought the Ogress had left for more smithing work like Mhairi heard that she'd done in the past.

In her year here, and knowing the Steepscrambler. Knowing Morgan. She thought that she knew the women fairly well. To hear such venom in her tone...it didn't sit right with the Wisp. Mhairi put that on the list of things to do, she'd listen if Morgan was willing to share why the raccoon hated them above the normal levels of hate reserved for Privateers. "You and me both sister." Mhairi quips to her Paladin, but that doesn't mean that her words were flippant or lacked truth.

"Morgause has a point. We need to figure out how we're going to house, feed and care for new arrivals. We're stretched a bit thin now and we're just this." a drippy fingered hand gestures to the entirety of the Freehold plus they new arrivals. "i'll help with Edna's. But...if we're looking for the number I think you are...Edna's'll be full quicker then you think."

Mhairi frowned at 'immigration tax' it sat uncomfortably with her, even at the same time she completely understood why they'd need it.

[Seraphina]

The Nix looks to L’aire, slowly digesting the words that were spoken. The claims that it had been dormant was curious, cause it seemed like Mhairi and Morgan were claiming otherwise. The sapphires slide back over to Mhairi, then back to L’aire, the Treasured was more than a little confused. If the Fairest wasn’t on board for attacking said Dragon, was that a sign of where the Seasons stood? Was there a divide between the Lost here?

A small smile was offered to Morgan as she mentioned climbing being good exercise, deciding to seek her out after the lunch. Might be fun to have someone to workout with, even if that workout was climbing.

When Green spoke, it was clear some of their friends were gone. Rather it was from the Dragon, or whatever interference someone had been doing. It was always hard to lose friends, but their existence wasn’t a safe one, and it came with many dangers.

Watching Morgause pet her food was a little disconcerting, that whole playing with your food thing. But her words made great points. With the numbers of Lost low, hell, she was apparently the only Spring, a sudden influx of Lost would greatly shift things. Not that she wanted the Crown, she’d suck as a leader, but she could see how it could disrupt the current administration.

Was she cooing at the mouse?! What the actual hell?! Who does that?!

Whoa…wait…immigration tax?! Would that apply to her? She didn’t have a job yet, what would happen if she couldn’t pay it? Concern covered her face as she considered the words.

“Sorry, I know I’m new and not Sworn yet, but this immigration tax you’re talking about. Well, suggesting. What would happen if a new arrival couldn’t pay it? Don’t get me wrong, I am by no means wanting a free ride, but it takes a little time to find steady work and get some money. Unless you had other ideas for this immigration tax idea.” Everyone should have to contribute, but within reason.

In all fairness, she listened to what Mhairi said, and she didn’t any metaphor. So it sounded like she wasn’t the only one, which was kind of a relief.