(Private)Monarchs Gather

[Saber Sloth]

8 days left!

[Gerrit]

He did not want to project his way of dealing with hurt onto Seraphina, but the way she downplayed it felt familiar to Gerrit. Thus he respected the wish he thought she implied and did not press further. If she wanted anything, she'd say so.

"A generator or batteries sound good enough for setting up things. I can try and find some information about something like Goblin Fruit that glows in the dark. Something else to rely on if things turn sour." That idea was fully theoretical, and Hedge-grown things weren't completely reliable per se, but it was worth looking into.
He considered for a moment to ask about the situation with Queen Anne, but he remained silent. Although he wouldn't admit it readily, there was still a good deal of shame seated somewhere in the back of his head for how badly the raid on the warehouse went due to him. Maybe that even was the first domino to fall that lead to Rhodes' disappearance.

The look on Gerrit's face could almost register as surprise when Circe talked about shapeshifting. "I didn't know you were looking into those Contracts. Unfortunately I'm no help there." He narrowed his eyes slightly. "Or was this a joke?"

[Circe]

Circe downs what is left of her coffee, allowing her to accept the refill from Seraphina. She smiles and nods her thanks to the Spring Queen.


"We'll get one of the well aged bottles," she assures Seraphina. Might as well, the stuff would got to waste otherwise. It was halping.


"1920s was, like, somewhere between candle and electric light," she guesses. It was probably true for some areas, so folks probably had better night vision back then. "Or they may have had generators. Didn't sufffocate cause of ventalation shafts that are gone now?" Or just didn't care. Solar panels could work. Who'd notice the extra draw on power if there was new input? "Panels? Could be tax benies fer Funderland ta get them. Use 'em ta charge batteries or an extension cord." That'd require a lot of paper trail, that Circe didn't have.


She turns away from Sera to Gerrit as he brings up Goblin Fruit as a sour option. "Cool Gerrit. Maybe Hedgespun lanterns? Need Glamour fer those though. Umm, Gerrit? How hard is it ta find a Goblin Fruit rave sticks?" Oh hey, that was another solution they could do buy and large. That makes blue lips smile, "Mundies have the survival version of rave sticks. Bigger, brighter, last in the pack fer like, uh, something, years?" Circe does a quick search of her phone. Oh, really? "Huh? Five years. Neat. Can bulk order."


Goblin fruit were an idea that no mundy could figure out or use, Gerrit had that going with the idea. But they had a rat and roach problem in the tunnels. Goblin Fruit, usually, doesn't do much to Iron Siders, but a giant mutant roaches wasn't impossible. Glow in the dark rats were more likely. Funnier, but problematic if it didn't fade.


"I am not so good with the oneiromachy," she freely admits to Gerrit and Seraphina. "I've got the kit fer physical patrols," both for range, melee, and surviving a mauling, "Specialist in their field," she waves to Seraphina, "I would not dream of trying ta show ya up in yer field."


"Eh," she shrugs as Gerrit asks how serious she is. She tries not to be but in this instance? She'll be clear, "Honestly? Revenge was final step of my plan. I'm winging it. Flyin' might be cool though."

[Seraphina]

“That’s a good idea! I didn’t even think of looking into Goblin Fruit.” It had completely slipped her mind. Had she ever seen such a fruit? No. But that didn’t mean it didn’t exist.

Was it a joke? She looked from Gerrit to Circe, curious as well. Sometimes it was hard to tell with the Summer.

Thinking a moment, “Or we haven’t found the ventilation shafts yet. If I remember right, there were some sort of collapsed structure on or in the ceiling. Those could have been the shafts. Or something else.” She didn’t know. “The problem with an extension cord is you can’t power many things. I’ve tried it with the Tavern, and you’ll throw a circuit with too many items. Maybe something in the entrance? A unit that has rechargeable batteries and flashlights? And keep with battery operated to be safe.” Harder to have those messed with.

An eyebrow raised, “Hedgespun lanterns?” it was obvious her mind was trying to work this out. “Huh. I’m not sure if it’s possible, but I can try playing around with a couple things. I know some of the fireflies in the Hedge are pretty huge, and I’ve used them before on a dress.” So putting them into some sort of lantern might work. With the right materials and luck.

"But these are all good ideas, and maybe once we get back down there, we can settle on the best one."

Laughing, “I’m no expert or specialist, I just know my way around and spend a lot of time there anyways.” It was the best way to keep her healing skills up to speed. “But always good to have all fronts covered. Though I do enjoy exploring the Hedge with you.” Never a dull moment.

[Gerrit]

Sometimes Circe just caught you off guard: Gerrit found himself smirking briefly when the Arsonist asked him about rave sticks. "I don't know, but I can look into it. But glow sticks might be a good investment. Any precaution we take is possibly a life saved later on. Lanterns might be a good idea too." A nod towards Seraphina. "The less reliant we are on electricity, the better."

The thought of patrolling the Hedge around Sacramento made Gerrit's rust-colored wound itch. Still, he could not just opt out just because he almost died out there. "I am good to go. Tunnels or patrols, just give me a call."

[Circe]

The city had changed over the decades. The ventilation was either in the flooded sections or built over. Probably. Who knows. They can always just GPS it to find out or something. She nods in understanding as Seraphina points out the flaws of an extension cord. Batteries it was. When questioned on the lanterns, Circe shrugs. She didn't know if it would work or not. She didn't Hedgespun long term tools often.


With a frown she decides to include one other benefit of the glow sticks, "The sticks will also work under water. Not so sure about Hedgespun and flashlights, but the sticks? Those'll work. And no spark if we find gas pockets. Most important, very cheap."


That was a thing in some movies set underground. Not sure if valid, but totally a cliche.


"Don't sell yerself short," she smirks at Seraphina. The Summer was more physical adept then dream adept when it came to patrols and combat.


"Thanks both," and she meant it to Gerrit and Seraphina. "First, the tunnels maybe? Best ta secure it and less likely ta battle down there. Quicker!" She smiles with a finger pointing up. "And we can have the noobs shore up stuff or something."

[Seraphina]

The nod was returned, “Sounds like we have some good ideas to test out. And I agree completely, any precaution we can take is valuable.” Though she hoped they would never have to test it. A notebook was taken out of a bag and a few words were written down.

“Sounds good. And the same goes for me, I’m willing to help with patrols in the Hedge as well.” She needed to go into the Hedge anyways to get some materials.

“That’s a good point! Would be a safer way of seeing how deep the pools are and what else might be down there.” Though she wouldn’t want to leave them down there after they stopped glowing. “Maybe a string or rope with some attached so we can pull them back up after?” and not using sparks with possible gas pockets was always a good thing.

Chuckling, “Oh, I’m not. I’m very skilled and proficient, but not at the level of some others.” The Nix knew she was good and talented, no questions there.

“Works for me, just let me know when, and I’ll be there.” She still wasn’t sure why she enjoyed helping with the tunnels. It was dirty and smelled. But she felt…alive…doing it.

Seems like a good place to close and wrap up