(Loyalty Is) Steps Retraced

[Circe]

Circe lets Rhodes talks and while Baghead is distracted she steps back to collect the $100 bills from the ground. Her left ear twitches as she sneers at the word serf. Circe knew what that archaic word meant well enough. Slave. The dry heat of Summer flares out to further smother Baghead's own Mantle.

She looks at Rhodes, "Fanculo no bro. I know that word and it ain't cool. I'll leave the negotiation to ya, no names until pledge, but no on the serfdom." Circe then looks at Baghead and unintentionally plays good cop, "Ya want another fruit?

[Seraphina]

Nodding at his words, she looks down at the girls leg. And the mess that her hands had become.
Well, those would have to be washed before we leave, she thinks. Though it was good to know she still wasn’t weakened by the sight of blood. Bonus.

Rhodes had the gift for Pledges, so she lets him do his thing. Content to remain seated on the floor.

Well, she was eating the fruit, this was progress. The pressure was kept on the knee, wishing she had something to tie it off with.

Better terms? And it made sense as she explained.

Shaking her head, “No, no serf.” But, Rhodes was dealing with the Pledge, so she didn’t want to step on toes. And turns to look at him, wiping her forehead with the back of hand, trying to avoid getting blood on her face, but still manages to get a little bit on her forehead.

Circe’s Mantle might have smothered Bagheads, but not Seras. “Another fruit might stop the bleeding. I can’t do it in the waking world.” Looking back at the knee. Hoping the Pledge will be done soon so they can get out of here.

[Rhodes]

"For fu...." The Dread Lord forces back a snarled response, pinching the bridge of his nose. They were all tired. His composure was at breaking point.

They were right, of course. What was in his mind didn not reflect the words, and for Pledges, that was never helpful.

He had one more short to make this word, the girfts of Pledgesmiths. ".... Fine. Ah.... We will not betray you to The Fallen Queen Ann, Iron Meg and their allies and minions, for one month. You will give us what information you possess about the jarmyn fruit operation in the Hedge - the prisoners, the guards, enything you know. Cursed of ill fortunes still applies."

The Flowering just wanted to go home, take a bath, and spend an evening with Sera. Everything else was too much.

Rewording of pledge:

Task: Forbiddance (-1)
Boon: Favour - tell them all about Meg's operation (+2)
Sanction: Curse (-3)
Duration: Moon (+2)

[Saber Sloth]

The Wizened eagerly takes another Blushberry, shaking, but nodding. Her bag rips and tears, creating teeth once more. More of her ruined knees knits together. She seems to be calming down with the Fairest's reassurance of her autonomy.

She quiet for a long moment, breathing sloppily through what passed as her nose.

"I swear, to tell you all I know of Jarmyn fruit operation in the hedge, for the protection against Queen Anne, Iron Meg and their allies, and minions for one month. If I don't, let the Wyrd tear me asunder."

She slumps down again. She might be healing but blood loss was still blood loss. "Sh-should I go to, Funderland?"

Baghead heals another Lethal!
Spends a WP to seal the Pledge.

A Pledge with an NPC isn't required to post in the Pledge Calculator due to how Scene Continuity works. But I can bring Beghead to the Infor Dump and share all she knows then!

[Circe]

Cire blinks in surprise as Baghead reveals that bit of knowledge, "Well shit, so much fer hiding our digs," head shakes in disappointment. Then her phone starts to go crazy with alerts. "Che cazzo?"

Circe waits for Rhodes to handle that while checking. "Oh, that's a lot of texts." She looks back to Seraphina, "Well which way do we go? She already knows it there why the Hell not? Stick ta pub, nothing secret, not even utility tunnels. Break room 4 maybe? Because," there is a brief pause before she sighs loudly, "I really, really, really need coffee and I put good machine there."

[Seraphina]

The Nix had to chuckle softly, knowing Rhodes was getting a bit cranky. But she couldn’t blame him, it had been a long day and now rewording Pledges.

His next attempt sounded better to her, but it wasn’t her agreeing to it. It was the girl in front of them. Sapphires look to the girl, curious.

Another fruit. That was good. Trust was being built.

When she slumps, Sera reaches out to support her back, “Well, I wasn’t aware you knew about it. But, it might be the safest place. I’m Sera by the way.” Because names were always a good thing. Especially when your hands were covered in someone elses blood. At least it wasn’t hers?

A shrug to Circe, “It was bound to happen at some point.” It just meant they needed to be careful.
“A break-room should be fine. Maybe we can get her something to eat and something else to wear. That isn’t attention catching bloody.” Cause she wasn’t bringing her to the Tavern. Nope. “I could use something to eat as well.” And a bed.

Looking back to Baghead, “Sound good? Because I have a feeling this place isn’t safe.” Not anymore.

[Rhodes]

Rhodes sighs. It was done.

"Not surprising. Remember why we went to the Motel in the first place? An dear woman looking for her husband? I'll bet this was all a ploy to get us bagged by Meg's goons." Of course he sounded irked.

"Easy money is Meg knows about Funderland. We've danced around each other over the years." He sighs. "Maybe it is time for a change in residence after all. Still. Issues for another time."

I think that's a change of venue again. Sounds like a scene end to me

[Saber Sloth]

Baghead let the Fairests talk, her button eyes, flat and dead, but alive and watchful. With their help the Wizened can stand, and walk.

They close up the shop, and order a taxi to the seat of their Freehold.

It was time for the remaining Lost to find out what the Monarch had about the Orchard, and Iron Meg.

Tis indeed!

End Scene!

I'll get the Info Dump scene up asap!