Summers Speaking Easy

[Circe]

The old Speak Easy had been remodeled into a tourist attraction, yet its roots still remained. The bar and kitchen were improved, having a good selection that Circe approved of. And yes, it had good mixes she enjoyed to imbibe. Yet, the private meetings rooms were the main draw. Some had more security then others against outside eavesdropping. Circe and others in the mortal underworld appreciated this security, treating it as neutral territory. That it was billed as "private and secure business meeting space" meant it also charged paranoid entrepreneurs desiring to prevent any industrial espionage.


Circe found the Fox Room the most convenient for her needs. Sure, there was an Owl Room she could've used for her Contract baiting, but not for now. It has a good directional angles from back when it was a speak easy. Enough to have a shotgun under the table with plenty of angles covered under said large table. Many criminals knew of this advantage. Including Circe, rocking her business suit whilst she sat at the table, cheese board and cold cuts board waiting as an appetizer for when Jack shows up. A small cart to the side has drinking glasses with several tequila bottles and club soda.


Jack Violet is expected to visit soon. She'd need to talk with him as both Summer Queen and Groundskeeper. Restrain being Kray's friend until she heard Jack's side...Her mantle flares up. Not due to Jack's actions. Not completely. But because the change of whom she was compared to who she is now. Responsible instead of fun and manic.

[Jack Violet]

Jack walked in he was dressed in a button up shirt, slacks and a long coat. He looked for the specific room Circe had mentioned, the Fox Room. Walking into the Fox Room he saw Circe, giving his summer queen the appropriate bow he then spoke. "Greetings Queen Circe, how are you doing this fine day. Mind if I take a seat?" Jack waits for the okay before sitting down. "Is there something you are wanting to speak to me about?"

[Circe]

Circe waits for the door to close. Then checks something upon her phone. Nods. "Yes Jack," she says to him, "Welcome and you can. There are a few things."


She awaits him to take a seat. "We've stuff to discuss. I've a few titles in town. Summer Queen is one. Groundskeeper is another. Not quite a marshal, but security boss nonetheless. Also friend to a lot of folks. Surprising," she gives a large smile as she waves her hands wide, "Given me being ME, but they're ya go. I have reasons to speak with you Jack. One of them is due to the second title. Jack. This room," she waves at the door that is closed, "Is one secured against eavesdropping. Quite private. A space away from mundy ears where we can talk freely about Lost business. Outside that door? Not so much."


She gives a moment for it to sink in. "You've been doing that Jack. Talking about words only the Lost would know around mundies. Normals. We have a lexicon of slang, a club speak, for talking about it around the ordinary humans. This is the first thing. If you don't know the slang," she puts on a PR smile, "You can ask me. I am happy to share though there is no printout. For obvious reasons. But I can talk a lot. Fairly obvious and I've a tab for ordering here too. Lesson and a meal."

She points to the cheese and meat board, small napkins and plates available. Sparkling water too, though no alcohol at present.


This was easier to discuss than the other matter. Official capacity, education, helping hand. It should make the second part less...unpleasant. Sure. Totally will help. Angry Summer will be less angry talking about the person he is angry at to his angry boss lady. Total will work. Just as much as Circe doesn't have projectile weapons on her person.

They are not all guns, so projectile weapon applies, thank you very much.

[Jack Violet]

Jack waits until the door shuts fully, the click sounding louder than it should, before he does take the seat, it’s careful, controlled, like he’s measuring the space between respect and defense.


“Yes, Your Majesty,” he begins, voice low. “Groundskeeper.” A pause. “Circe.”


He exhales through his nose, one hand rubbing at the back of his neck. “I hear you. And… I apologize.” The word is clean, not rushed. “Truly. If I’ve been careless with our words, with our things, that’s on me. I won’t pretend ignorance erases consequence.”


His brow creases, confusion threading through the contrition. “I thought I was being subtle, skirting around the point instead of addressing it directly.” A quiet, humorless huff. “Seems my sense of the weather was off.”


The pressure builds then, not heat so much as humidity, the heavy stillness before rain breaks. His jaw tightens, but his voice stays even. “What unsettles me is realizing how easy it is for the wrong words to drift, even when I think I’m holding them close. That’s on me to correct. I don’t want loose thunder where it doesn’t belong.”


He reins it back in quickly, meeting her gaze again. “You’re right. Mundies don’t get our truth plainspoken. Not outside rooms like this.” Another dip of his head. “I’ll adjust. I’ll learn the safer turns of phrase. And if you’re offering to teach, I’ll listen.”


A faint edge of dry humor slips through, rain tapping stone. “Summer learns best under pressure.” Then, softer, earnest again. “I don’t want to put the Freehold at risk. And I don’t want to put you in a position where you have to tend ground scorched by my mistakes.”


He settles back, hands open on his knees. “If there’s more, I’m here. And I’m listening.”

[Circe]

Circe nods slowly as Jacks says her two titles, face serious with her long ears flush against her skull. Then a large, friendly smile when he says her name, elfin ears bouncing happily. Camaraderie is preferable to her instead of command.


And he seems to get it. Step one, success? Already? Surprise Circe! She nods, "Admission is the first step to rectification as they say. Aaand I've a career that requires innuendo too, so I have a leg up on this. Still," she claps before she does the Italian trait of gesticulating with her hands, "I am happy to share and whilst I COULD apply pressure to the learning, not sure if that is a good idea." She shrugs. Then she gets an impish smile, "Oh ho ho ho. Unless you don't mind getting electric shocks when you make mistakes," she folds her hands together to finger tent in front of her on the table. "It works in comedies for rapid teaching, and I do have a taser."

A short list of Freehold Slang

Backyard: Hollow
Club: The Freehold
Club business: Often used to indicate a mission to help the Freehold or official tasking.
club officer: usually a monarch, but can apply to any titled position in the Freehold
Club speak: Freehold Slang for "Freehold Slang."
Cold: Used to indicate Winter Court
Crafty: Hedgespinner
Evil Twin: Fetch
Flea Market: Goblin Market
Game Face: Strengthened Mask
Giddy/Joyful: Used to indicate Spring Court
"Go for a hike/walk in the park...": Journey into the hedge
Have A Temper/Anger Management: Used to indicated Summer Court
Hiking Trail: Trod
"I had a really bad dream once...": Describing one's Durance
Mellow: Used to indicate the courtless
Mundies: Mortals
Needful Things: Spring Courtiers
Noob: Newly escaped changeling
Norman/Norma: Mortals
Party/Social/Gathering: Coronation
"Once upon a time...": Describing one's mortal(pre-Durance) life
Old Club House: The Four Seasons Hotel - former freehold commons
Them/They: True Fae, etc.
Scary: Used to indicate Autumn Court
Wonderland: Hedge, Arcadia
Yard Sale: Goblin Market

Holding a pistol to his head wouldn't work. Primarily because Circe figures her diplomacy would mean Jack would doubt that she'd pull the trigger. No pressure from an empty threat.


"Alternative? You could carry around some roleplaying game books would help excuse saying a LOT of weird shit," she offers as a suggestion. "Knew some that tried that at my last Freehold. Or they were into the game about hating communists and loving evil computers, I don't know," she shakes her head at the memory. The explanations she got we very weird, even by Lost standards. Although, the name of the game was ironically fitting for Changelings to play.


"There is another matter. One I wish to keep from escalating. Our club has a fascinating relationship between its officers. Affects the last thing folks call me in the club," she practices the words with Jack. "I have yet to have anyone from another section of the club reach officer status without being on friendly terms with them first...Huh," she drops the finger tenting to rub her chin. "Now that I think about it, that is shocking. I really think of my self as an ass, just one that admits to it."


She is getting off track. "Tangent! Right. I know its odd for one of our temperament to act as peace broker in a club, but here we are. Was my first act when I first got the crown." She shakes her head, elfin ears bouncing from droop to perked, "Not tangent again yet. You and Kray," Circe is going to be blunt on this. "You're starting to pick a bone with each other. Given vulpine and cannibal, bone picking could get someone bit."


Circe gives a dark chuckle. "Worries me. Especially since we don't have a sticher or, uh, white mage anymore. Reattaching limbs could be difficult, and whilst the flea market has a pun-ishing arms dealer," the amusement stays dark. This does not stop her from making puns, "Whilst handy, and I can foot the bill by spicing things up, I'd rather not have either of you complaining about the new bits feeling different."


Jack Violet may be a fellow Summer, but she had the feeling Kray has more battle experience. Still, better to phrase both at risk. "You pissed at him. I heard his why. I want to hear yours. Like I said, peace maker. Well, broker. Peacemaker I've got the guns for, but not the choreography nor pet bird of prey."