(Guilty of Dreaming) Coffee Corner

[Freya]

Freya's eyes widened as she listened to Lucifer describe the means of her injury. She did not see through the lie as Rhodes had and was thus surprised when the Fairest expressed his doubt about the truth in the Shadowed Beauty's statement. Freya thought the best of others. Unless she was given a reason not to. Then Rhodes spoke of the Gentry.

The mother protects. Freya closed her eyes a moment, breathing deeply as a means to process what has been said. She opened them again to look upon Lucifer and Penance, her gaze one of concern. She was no True Fae, but she was gifted in the Contracts of the Dream. She could help.

As Rhodes made his way to her and spoke, Freya offered him a soft smile. Despite the seriousness of the situation before them, the need to nurture was strong and so she offered he best face, "The well-being of our brethren is all of our responsibility. You don't need to bear that alone." The statement was simple, but clear enough in Freya's eyes. The bird-thing would lean in as Rhodes spoke about the troubles of Luci, Penance, and dear Ingrid. "I am not academically inclined with oneiromancy... but I am gifted in Contracts of the Dream. If nothing else, I can help affect change and seek the poison. If Lucifer and Penance would consent to my meddling, of course."

Resisting one among the Gentry and pushing them out of a dream would be difficult, but it was not impossible. Additionally, if she could pull it off, Freya felt that the True Fae in question would be unlikely to try again. At least for a time. Thus, the Clawed Mother knew she could not leave the issue unresolved now that she was aware of it.

[Saber Sloth]

derp derp, My thoughts got all turned around, thanks Cayce for clearing things up!
Penance and Rhodes do detect Luci's lies.

[Lucifer]

"She speaks the truth," Lucifer continued, nodding slowly in Penance's direction. If she wasn't so dehydrated and suffering from blood loss, she no doubt would have begun to sweat. They had seen through her lie. Seen through the illusion that she had hoped to throw over their eyes to block out her shame. Would they suspect the Truth? Did they know how weak and helpless she already was?

"What she did not mention, however, was that while Penance tried to protect us, and while the Spring Queen tried to play Nurse Maid, I found the Gentry's touch in the dream. It had been Poisoned, the dreamer no doubt already mad. She begged us to find Queen Anne, though whoever that is, I do not know."

[Rhodes]

Rhodes inclines his head to Freya in acknowledgement. "Thank you. Please understand what I mean when I say because Lucifer is of my court, I feel.... more obligated. Between us, I have the knowledge and some raw practrice and you, Freya, have the specific tools in the contracts that will be most helpful."

Rhodes does not speak with Penance recalls her account, and Lucifer adds her notes. His gaze lingers on her longer than it might, as if watching her might provide some manner of insight. So. She flees. She lies about injury. Pride no doubt, and I can understand that. What is going on, Lucifer? Other than the hard stare that could have been simple concern, the Fairest made no indication that he was aware of Lucifer's attempted deceit.

Eventually he looks over to Penance. "Queen Anne... hmmm. Either a Fae or perhaps a Courtly Queen...?" He muses aloud. "No. The poison alone makes the latter unlikely. Obviously we cannot leave one of our own to torment, if there is a way to save them. Penance, could you try to recall the repeated words the tormented Lost was uttering? They may be helpful."

[Freya]

Freya listened as Penance recounted her tale, taking in the details. As the young woman discussed the arena, concern spread across Freya's face. She was gifted in the Dream, but less studied in it as she had said before. Still, this did not sound like an ordinary nightmare, though the fact that three of the Lost had experienced the same version of events should have been the Clawed Mother's first clue.

Looking to Lucifer as she spoke of a few other events to which Penance had not spoken too, Freya's concern deepened. As the beauty spoke of encountering the poison of the dream, Freya's gaze traveled downward to the cause. Still, she did not know Luci well enough to comment on her guarded nature. And a mother cannot comfort when once rebuffs such things. Thus, Freya returned her gaze to Rhodes, a compatriot of the Dream albeit of a different variety.

"You don't need to apologize. The ties of our Courts are deep. I'd be more concerned if you did not feel obligated to help your fellows." At the last statement, Luci recieved another glance from the bird-thing. Still, that was a matter for another day and, as Rhodes commented on her gifts and how they could compliment his studies in this endeavor, Freya smiled, "Then it seems you'll be the surgeon and I'll be the scalpel, Mr. Rhodes."

Then Freya considered the statement of this 'Queen Anne' being a member of the Gentry rather than one of the Lost, "We assume the Lost is maddened by the poison of the dream, but perhaps our comments are missing the mark," The Beast leaned forward, her eyes looking to the Autumn courtiers before her as she searched her mind for the right words, "We all endured our own Durance... some of us for years, but even those lost to madness still had Clarity locked away in our hearts. It helped us remember and flee from a Durance we'd like to forget," A tone of sadness was present in the final words, before Freya quickly remembered herself, shaking away the dark thought, "It's how we escaped, yeah? Perhaps our brethren's call for Queen Anne is indeed a call for one of the Lost as a desperate plea of their own failing Clarity. I don't think it's smart to dismiss that as a possibility. She could be the key to finding out this whole mess."

[Rhodes]

The Fairest man smies and inclines his head at Freya's response. This one is insightful. We shall have to talk more. "I look forward to working together. And I suppose you make a valid point," he concedes slowly. "If you are willing to share, Freya, I would like to know how many contracts with Dream you have, so I might plan accordingly for what we may find there. It is inevitable, if we are to resolve this on our own terms - before our enemy is ready - that we go back to the dream in force and I would like to be as prepared as possible."

He looks tro Penance as he leans back in the elaborate chair. "It is alright. The Dreaming can be chaotic and confusing place, and a lot can be forgotten. But if this Queen Anne is a real person, we should know about them, as well as preparing for a Fae threat."

Saber Soth , what kind of roll would it be to have heard of Queen Anne?

[Freya]

Freya offered Penance a gentle smile, her voice adopting a forgiving, motherly tone by instinct, "You have nothing to apologize for, Penance. Dreams can be fleeting, even for the Lost. There is a reason the Fae target them."

Then the Den Mother turned her attention to Rhodes, "I don't see the harm in telling you, Rhodes. I have two, but the latter allows me to shape the Dream. It's... useful in the Harvest and gentle on Man." She took a breath, what she was about to suggest was risky, but she could not allow the Quilled One to suffer if there was a chance she could help, "It also allows me to confront outside forces as an accomplished oneiromancer might. It... can be taxing, even dangerous, but I'm willing to help."

Freya steeled herself. She was willing to put herself on the line. This was her new home and if its peope were at risk, she had to do what she could in order to ensure their survival.

[Saber Sloth]

If your character has lived in the Bay/San Francisco area before coming to Sacramento you will have heard of Queen Anne, if your character has passed through the Bay area before March of this year, you would have heard of Queen Anne.
If one or the other is true, let me know!
If neither are true, it's time to roll some dice!
Wits+Investigation-3 If you are actively attempting to locate rumours. Intelligence+Streetwise-3 if you are attempting to remember rumours heard.