(Budding Thorns) Lost and Found

[Travisc06489]

Funderland has attracted a motley assortment of individuals since it became the new bastion for the Lost of Sacramento. It's a safe haven, surviving after a Dragon ravaged the Freehold and scattered most of its members to the wind. Though a few of the travelers have moved on - pulled to some other calling or forced away for other reasons - the park remains. A testament to the stubborn fae-touched people who call it home.

Half a football field away, a girl no more than 12 years old peeks out from behind a lonely tree. Her white t-shirt and jeans are particularly dirty - like she's been wearing them for days. Her brown eyes are transfixed on the gate. She seems terrified. Though of what, one can only imagine. She looks left, right, back at the gate... then pulls back behind the tree again. With her back to the tree, she plops down and hugs her knees to her chest.

On this quiet evening, as the Sun retreats over the horizon, her sobs can be heard. A soft sound mingling with crickets and the not-too-distant sounds coming from the park.

[Donovan Ackerman]

Donovan was heading home after his job at Funderland all day as a trash collector. Though job was a bit generous for being paid completely in cash after being hired with his background being deliberately ignored by management. Not that he was ungrateful. Any less than he was now that his 'home' was basically a bridge that kept off the rain. Alex's motel had kicked him out several days ago without notice. The Wizened had taken every blanket, sheet, comforter, and towel when he'd left to find his new residence. Not a bad deal, all things considered.

Hands in pockets and head down, he savored the last of the sun's rays. The true sun. Not even his mantle could provide the same sensation absent the daystar. Though at least it meant he never felt truly cold. Even as the days grew short, the Wizened still felt the Summer sun beating down on him.

There was a sound and Donovan's hand went to his back. Damn he missed his bow. So without a means to fight he froze and listened and prepared for flight.

The muffled sound came again. Like a lawn bleating for a lost mother.

He approached cautiously, taking a wide arch so that he came around the weeping tree in a circle to see what was behind it. To see what was crying.

He came up a bit short when he saw it wasn't the tree or a lamb making the noise but a little girl.

"Uhhh, howdy," he said slowing his pace "Ya a'right miss?"

[Seraphina]

The park had closed and Sera was making her way out. The pans for the evening hadn’t been decided yet, part of her wanted to go out, the other part knew she shouldn’t. With Halloween coming up, she knew she was going to have a full schedule of different parties to hit. Plus money was tight with getting her costume and putting some aside for her new business venture.

But if things went well, she would have money coming in! What a change that would be!

Tonight she was casual, jeans, knee high boots, leather jacket. Under which was a white tank top and her hedgespun necklace, it’s colors catching any light that hits it. Her silver and gold spun hair cascaded in soft curls around her shoulders. Though it still amused her that even when she was casual she was stunning. Being a Fairest had its advantages.

It was the sounds that stopped her steps. Head cocked to the side listening.

Were those..sobs?

A look of confusion crosses her face as she looks around.

First, she see’s Donovan. But she doubts he was the one crying. Plus, she would expect more manly sobs from him, being a guy and all.

So she walks over, her boots clicking on the ground as she approaches.

The Nix also stops short when her eyes fall upon the little girl. Who clearly could use a bath and some new clothes. Though in all honesty Donovan always looked like he needed a bath too.

A nod was offered to Donovan, “Hey.” She says before kneeling down, sapphires looking at the girl.

“And hi to you,” her angelic voice soft, “Are you ok?” concern laced her voice.

[Ingrid]

Ingrid is on her way to Funderland.

Now that she is Groundkeeper of the Freehold, the Darkling is finding that the theme park has developed an inexorable gravity thats draws her more and more. A part of her mind is already trembling at the prospect of becoming another Mhairi (the Elemental never seems to leave). And so it is on this evening - straight from her work as a professional snoop to her vocation as... a spymaster of the old variety in a world of hobs and monsters...

The season has turned; Ingrid is shrouded in a loose scarf and a leather jacket. Boots, new for the season, creak as she moves. She has her peaked cap squashed firmly over her face. Hands deep in her pockets.

She almost misses it. Lost in her own thoughts, she is barely roused by the weak whimpers. It is the sight of Donovan - and of Seraphina deliberately joining him - that gives her pause. She stands, twisting her torso to get a better look. She espies no sign of the kid at this point, only the three. Though the two Lost do appear to be conversing with... something. Or someone.

Curiosity roused, Ingrid moves to join them at a jog.

"Well hello guys! Whats so exciting as to get your interest? Something juicy..." There was a mischievous grin blossoming on her face. It hangs there, transfixed and suddenly fake, when she at last sees the distraught kid. Words are sucked from her like breath from a winded lung.

"Shit." Is about all the Darkling can manage.

[Travisc06489]

"M-mm." is all she can get out, looking up at the Wizened. She wrinkles her nose a bit. As her eyes meet his, it's clear she's no ordinary girl: her eyes are all too big on her face. She wipes tears away from her eyes with webbed fingers. And, as she turns her head towards the Fairest beside him, small slits can be seen on the side of her face. Looking like, for all intents and purposes, a set of gills.

She makes a sound like a hiccup, then licks her lips and tries again. This time fixed on the beautiful, golden-gilded girl who's kneeling down next to her. Her already wide eyes widen a bit more. "I... I saw the others comin here. Th-thought maybe you'd help me. Cuz y-you're like me." She wipes away newly forming tears.

Ingrid's approach gives her a start. She recovers, staring a bit more curiously at the rubbery-skinned Darkling. "Y-you said a bad word." she says, conjuring up a weak attempt at a smile. She still clutches her knees close to her body, but the relief that someone found her is clear on her face.

"My little brother and me. W-we did somethin stupid."

[Donovan Ackerman]

Donovan's brow furrowed when he saw the changes wrought on the little girl. He'd heard of the Kindly Ones taking kids. Babies even. He was hard pressed to remember many stories where someone that young making it back. He looked around, checking the area to make sure no mortals were around. And that there were no hunters waiting using the girl as bait in a trap. There's a moment of dread before he recognizes his fellow Freeholders. He wave to them both while continuing to scan for any unfamiliar faces.

  1 success

Date		Action		Roll		Result
2017-10-25 21:44:37		Donovan rolls 5 to Wits+Comp (10 Again)		8, 7, 4, 4, 4		1 success

Only after checking to make sure the coast was clear did he sit down on his haunches next to Sera.

And couldn't think of what to say. How did you tell a kid about being a Changeling? Explain she probably couldn't go home because of a Fetch. That there were other Keepers and Loyalists out there who would try to take her to Fairie if they found her. That she and her brother were forever changed and tied to the Wyrd. Wait. He looked around.

"Where's yer brother?" he managed to ask. He still wasn't entirely sure this wasn't a trap of some kind. Even if it was though, that meant these kids still needed rescue from who ever might be using them

[Ingrid]

A moment of surprise.

"Yeah. I did. I... ah! Kinda forget. Sometimes." She manages to turn the situation into a small laugh, building on the girl's relief and her fragile attempt at rapport. But you're not a kid, she wanted to say. But couldn't.

  

Date		Action		Roll		Result
2017-10-26 04:40:36		Ingrid to project friendly rolls 6 to Manipulation + Empathy (10 Again)		7, 7, 10, 8, 4, 3, 2		2 successes

She eased herself to the ground - not quite sitting and not quite squatting. It was a slow movement and it gave her time to study the young Lost. While she did, her gut sank and a cold dread seeped up her spine. A child! This was a Lost both rare and tragic.

  

Date		Action		Roll		Result
2017-10-26 04:49:12		Ingrid to know about Kiths and Seemings rolls 5 to Intelligence + Occult (10 Again)		1, 2, 2, 4, 6		failure

"Well. You found us. Helping others like us is what we do. Its, like, kinda, all we can do." Gently, like she was talking to a frightened animal. And when she mentioned she had a brother? The Darkling's face crumples.

Two of them?

"Yeah. Where is your brother? Is he... like us?"

A pause.

"What did you do?"

The words were stale and flat in her mouth. The Darkling was still processing the sudden twist to the evening. Even her sense of outrage at the depravations of the Gentry was masked by her stupefied confusion.

[Seraphina]

She looks up at Ingrid briefly and nods before focusing back on the girl. She figured her Queen would understand.

Seeing the tears tore at her heart, and she wanted to reach out to the girl, but wasn’t sure how it would be taken. Not knowing why she was crying yet and all.

Wait….are those…gills?! Is this little girl a Lost?! That thought baffled and pissed her off. A child was not equipped to handle being one of them. Hell, even they weren’t fully equipped with what came with escaping and trying to live as a mundane again.

And then her words sealed it, she was one of them.

“Of course we’ll help you.” She says with a soft smile. And this time she does reach out and gently places a hand on one of the girls. A reassuring nod offered, “Like she said, it’s what we do.”

There was then a gentle musical laugh as she picked up on Ingrids ‘bad’ word.

A nod after Donovan spoke, “Yes, where is your brother? Is he ok?” can’t help him if he wasn’t here. Or were they in some sort of trouble?

Sapphires look to the Darkling and she nods again, “What happened?” meaning were they going to have to kick some ass. Cause she was ok with that right now.

“Uh, maybe we should go into the park and talk? Maybe get something warm to drink?” the last part directed at the girl, “Or something to eat?”

[Travisc06489]

Fortunately, the Lost are alone with themselves. No lurking Loyalists or meddling Muggles. As far as Donovan can tell.

  1 success

Date		Action		Roll		Result
2017-10-27 18:35:19		Fish Girl rolls 2 to Is this a nice lady? (10 Again)		3, 9		1 success

She eases up, some, as Ingrid comes down closer to her level. Her too-wide eyes, still pretty, study the Darkling. Seemingly satisfied with Ingrid's declaration, she nods lightly. She seems startled again at Seraphina's touch, but doesn't pull her hand away.

Her eyes dart between the three, as each asks the most important question. He's..." Her lip quivers, but she manages not to cry. "I don't know." She doesn't say more on the subject. Her eyes become distant.

Wits+Subterfuge or Wits+Empathy.

It takes her a moment, with Donovan towering above and the two girls in close, but she pulls her hand back and pushes herself up to her feet. "What do you have?" she asks, stomach grumbling loudly at the mention of food.

[Donovan Ackerman]

Donovan didn't see anyone else around, which was good. He still couldn't quite shake the feeling this could be a trap though.

"Ya sure takin' her to the park's a good idea?" He felt for the kid, he really did. It was still taking her to the main base. Though she had already basically found it to be honest. He wasn't sure that was a good or bad thing. It meant enemies could find it. Yet also made it good for newly escaped Lost to find refuge before the hunt came. Made obvious by the current situation. "Yeah, yer probably right," he concluded.

"A'right darlin', what's yer name? I'm Donovan."

1 success

Date		Action		Roll		Result
2017-10-28 20:19:33		Donovan rolls 3 to Wits+Empathy (10 Again)		1, 3, 9		1 success