The Heat of the Day

[Donovan Ackerman]

The talk of running goods don't concern the Woodwalker half as much as the comments and looks made towards him when he mentioned killing 'himself'. Donovan’s brow furrowed when Circe suggested discretion when talking about his fetch. There was a moment of confusion. Alex had said this this was a safe space. Though turning to the Summer King and seeing concern mirrored there, it dawned on him where their worry stemmed from.

“Are you kiddin’ me? We been talking about changin’ out the Director and bustin’ up a Goblin Fruit drug ring… but talkin’ about knockin’ off a fetch… that’s too far?” He looked between them, barely able to believe he was having this conversation with members of his own court.

“No, I can’t replace it. Never even finished high school before I was taken. Too young by half to even look like him. That don’t matter though. It’s a fetch,” he stated as if that ought to answer all their questions. “Could be the nicest guy this side of the Colorado river and I still wouldn’t want it within a hundred miles of my mother. It's a piece of shit, cobbled together, Gentleman made fake. I’ve heard stories. Even normal seemin’ ones been known to snap and hurt people. If there’s even an ice cube’s chance in hell it’d hurt my mom… I'd shot an arrow through its neck in a heartbeat.” Sacrifice anything to keep his family safe. It wasn't like hadn't already. He looked between them again. The feeling of the sun beating down intensified momentarily. It felt… defiant. Challenging. As if daring them to look the sun in the eye.

The invisible glamourous daystar faded after a few seconds and the Wizened answered Alex’s question. “Don’t know much more than that. Donovan Ackerman. Originally from Texas. Moved here a year or two ago. My neighbors didn’t know much more than he’d moved to Sacramento and my mom followed soon after.”

[Circe]

Alex's comment got a laugh out of Circe, "Yeah. Just add dakka and customer complaints being more hazarouds," Circe couldn't help but laugh more about that, "People take certain hobbies too seriously. And they like to barter. I kinda hope that one redneck got mauled to death." She nodded to herself at that.

"Eh, can't argue with that too much I guess," Circe just gave a smile as she shrugged with her arms spread in response to Donovan's outburst, "We are being discrete about my business at least. Could bullshit others related to club event or a ride's bad guys but really fucking stetching it it's true," she looked at Alex, "Alex? He's got us on," points with both index fingers at Donovan, "You win!"

Ah the Fetch was a problem. Still, it seemed wrong to deny a fellow Summer their vengeance: "I can understand that kind of hatred, ain't gonna deny wrath to a fellow Summer. Or protecting those ya love. I personally won't go after my Evil Twin," after a pause she decided to quietly add, "But that'd be cuz it has more guns and allies, by its Mask, than I can ever get."

She smirked as she looked at Donovan, "Though don't go all Winter on getting back your famiglia. I've heard of ways to get your skill set to sky rocket. If you want to risk frying your brain," she said in a sing-song tone, "I've heard some flea markets in the park can make you practically an instant expert. You'd probably wanna chat with the scary club members too. They might know if there's a way to, like, steal memories of your evil twin or something," Circe didn't know a thing about that. Autumns were supposed to be good with the magical shit so best to ask one of them.

Circe always preferred five rounds rapid to Tokens. "Doing the deed my, uh, surplus ain't exactly arrow compatible, sorry. Night vision goggles?" She offers in curiosity.

[Donovan Ackerman]

He could kind of understand where they were coming from. Worrying that he might die. Or go crazy. Crazier anyway. All the same, the thought of leaving it alive wasn’t worth the risk. And if cost Donovan something, whether life or sanity, he’d pay if it kept his family safe.

“Don’t know how much it knows ‘bout itself. Haven’t met it. Guess I’ll find out when I do.”

“I get where y’all are comin’ from. Kinda. But I’m sure. Thank for your advice and offerin’ to help. But first I gotta find it before I can start too much plannin’ on what I need to take it down.” Something to talk about in the future.

Alex mentioned meeting and paying for Spring’s help got an indifferent shrug. More politics, though if needed he would probably be willing to pay the ‘personal cost’ without needing a refund.

“Alright, anything else or we ready to see a man about a suit?” All this talk of politic and fetches had Donovan ready to beat up a drug dealer. Or intimidate him like they’d planned. But the thought of punching someone was more appealing right now.

[Circe]

Circe scoffed at the mention of Thomas's timidity, "I've met more timid then he," she shook her head, blonde locks bouncing as she sighed: "I could'a made a better impression too." She had been missing her Rogues a little too much at the time probably. Oh who was she kidding, she was a lonely mess at the time with no Eris around to smack her upside the head into behaving.

Circe was also curious if Donovan's evil twin was ignorant of what it was or not. Circe had no desire to find out if her own was aware or not. Judging by the fact that the mafia was slaughtering Lost though it was probably not.

The discussion of trading with Spring got her interest back on to Alex. "Oh? What talents do they have?" Circe was aware of the talents of Spring including healing. Or that was a service she regularly saw them selling that wasn't psychotropic. "And is the Summer candy going to involve me? I'm sure I can find a variety to import."

Though it'd be strange to phrase gun running in candy terms if that is what Alex intended. Still, it was not the weirdest lexicon she'd have to deal with in her business.

And now they were onto the business of killing a Fetch. "Ignorance is better, it won't see you coming and can't sic stuff on ya," was her response to how much Donvoan knew about the Fetch Donovan. After a pause she added, "Can't sic stuff on ya beyond the mundane that is," she nodded as she finished her caveat. She then looked at Alex, "Might want to look into its clients too. Just in case it has any dangerous allies."

"I can keep you boys company for suit shopping but I ain't gonna buy one unless it's, like, bulletproof or something," she half joked in response to Donovan's query.