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Post by Deleted on Mar 14, 2021 14:11:08 GMT -8
The office was an unassuming building on the outside, looked like the style of the block, a little bland but once one entered they would find that it was a very new building, several businesses inside including a dentist on the second floor. Made appointments real easy. Meanwhile up on the fourth floor one would find the glass door that led into the dark walled, white floored modern office of Have A Hart: Management with Heart. Hokey wasn’t it? Entering the main office there was a nice lobby and a series of comfy chairs, with a reception desk that split the small path to the glass doored office and the conference room and kitchen. However, there was no one at the reception desk, but down the short hall the glass door to the office opened and was waiting with some high energy pop music filling the dead air. A white aesthetic of the room and the large almost ceiling to floor windows Dominated the room, just a nice decent view of the sprawl looking out towards the strip. Great view really. There was a reception desk that passed the waiting seats, which forked to a little storage area, and then down to Archie’s own office. At the reception desk was a handsome young man, the aforementioned Clint who was relentlessly cheery in greeting guests or answering calls. In this case, Ivory would be able to head directly to Archie’s office, appointments being made already. Once in the room she would find the Fairest studiously pecking away at his MacBook, a navy and gold striped bow tie, and seafoam shirt being his eccentric color choice of the day, his jacket hung behind him. “Abi! Please take a seat, I just need to get these dates sent over to Riley. While I finish up, what about our little escapade brings you in today?”
With his words, it would seem clear that this was his castle of sorts, but was still very welcoming. “A drink? A little early for alcohol but that hasn’t stopped me before. I also can have Clint bring us some coffee.”
Ivory
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Ivory
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Pres 4 (Regal) - SL 1 (Noble) Fairest Hunterheart
Posts: 588
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Post by Ivory on Mar 14, 2021 16:05:04 GMT -8
Ivory was prompt, as usual, arriving with time to spare to find parking and comfortably find her way into Archie's office by the scheduled appointment. The nature of the conversation directed Ivory's attire, donning a light pink skirt suit set. Accessories were minimal, consisting of only a white Apple watch and a small black Coach purse. There were more expensive brands, of course, but this was her day to day bag and she knew she needn't impress the Chatelaine with luxury. Makeup, too, was conservative, though the slight smoky eye and nude lipstick added a little bit of flair. Clint was afforded a smile and a nod as she was directed through. Staff deserved to be treated with respect. The cordial smile remained as Ivory finally beheld the man himself, taking a seat at his request as he invoked the Wyrd without her knowledge, enforcing his dominance and the understanding that Ivory was in his realm. "A pleasure to see you again, Mr. Hartman," she offered as he greeted her, "And no worries. As I mentioned, I find myself with an abundance of time. With luck, this meeting might change that for the better."
There was no rush and Ivory seemed comfortable with the concept of waiting while Archie concluded his business. "I am here because I need help," Ivory answers, "and I believe you may understand my need, given you nature of uplifting our mutual friends."
The smile turned a hint warmer at the hospitality. It was appreciated considering their rocky history as of late. "I leave that decision to the host," she offered, granting Archie another measure of control over how he wanted the meeting to go, "but I will admit to being receptive to either."
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Post by Deleted on Mar 14, 2021 18:03:11 GMT -8
With a bit of small talk, Archie pinged Clint who brought them some coffee - the two shared a joke or two, and as quick as he came he was gone - a practiced expert at his job Clint was. There was a reason Archie leaned on him to accomplish as much as he did. Plus the cost of retraining someone was a nightmare waiting to happen. “Alright, we have caffeine coursing through us - sugar, cream, milk, splenda even. These chairs are all sorts of comfy because if I am going to sit I make sure my rear is in a good place. Now firstly color me a shade of curious.”
He swung back and forth gently in his seat, more of a fidget than anything as he kept his eyes on his guest while he did so nonetheless. “What assistance could I provide? You are established, well off, and well on your way. I know you mentioned our mutual project so I assume this is some sort of mechanical help because I do not know what else you could need.”
Strong King - Archie — Today at 7:02 PM
Dragons and Castles
Whats your play here Ivory
Wits + Empathy + Special
@dicecord-CoD roll 7
Dicecord-CoD
BOT
— Today at 7:02 PM
@strong King - Archie rolled 7 dice and got 2 successes. 4 8 10(5) 5 6 7 2
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Ivory
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Pres 4 (Regal) - SL 1 (Noble) Fairest Hunterheart
Posts: 588
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Post by Ivory on Mar 15, 2021 3:22:39 GMT -8
A quiet thank you was granted to Clint and Archie as the coffee was deliver. The Dragon didn't appear to be too picky with the coffee itself. Two sugars, one cream. Granting the pair a moment for their banter, Ivory would take a drink and wait.
"Yes, it does concern the project, chiefly those who will be affected by it," Ivory said, settling into the chair as she mused how to place her thoughts before the Chatelaine before her. "To be blunt? I do not believe that ensuring the tenants are ousted is doing enough. Some will still be bled of their savings before they accept the inevitability of the gentrification and that reality does not sit well with me. I believe we can do more to help them, but I lack the means to do so on my own."
Clearing her throat, the Pale Dragon moved on to the point.
"I would like to set up a community fund or temporary foundation to assist those being displaced from Whitney to settle elsewhere," she said, "To be frank, my resources, while abundant do have their limits. Thus, I cannot do this alone. I've also never really set something up like this before, so the full knowledge of how to run it eludes me, though it is my understanding that certain tax forms are involved. I presume establishing the degree of need will be necessary as well. Given this gap in effective knowledge and my assumption that the financial side of things would be too much for my own assets to handle on their own, I have come to understand that I need to find someone to collaborate with. Hence, why I contacted you."
She let a pause hang for a moment before continuing.
"In the spirit of candor, I will be forthright in saying that you are not the first I've approached on the matter. Sir Nimbus and his entourage were first, but they considered the matter unimportant, at least in regards to whatever projects they are currently endeavoring to finish," she said, a tone of frustration lilting through her voice as she recalled the evening Piper snuffed the effort with a single sentence, "Likewise, I'm not blind that this request may seem a bit... rich coming from me due to our past history and the nature of my wealth. However, I can assure you the matter is somewhat personal to me and that I have desire to deceive you regarding my intentions for the funds. I want to help them, Mr. Hartman, and I believe collaborating with you on the matter will make the effects a bit more lasting than I can accomplish on my own."
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Post by Deleted on Mar 15, 2021 7:58:03 GMT -8
Coffee in hand, Archie was all ears for what the dragon had to say on the matter, his hospitality giving him an insight into what he may be dealing with as the Wyrd was weaved in the room.
None the less he was attentive to her pitch. His gears turned in his own mind as he waited for her to finish. Once she had he set his coffee cup down and let out a long breath as he drummed the arm rests on his chair.
“Well that is certainly not what I was expecting to say the least. I mean technically it isn’t impossible to surmount. Set up an LLC, pay into it, let the funds flow through the company based on income level subsidies and claim the contributions as tax write offs, right? Keeps personal wealth personal, and keeps that nasty gifters tax. So I mean it isn’t outside the realm of possibility. I am sure we both have bookkeepers more than capable of setting that up.”
He puffed his cheeks for a moment as he looked down at his desk, reaching forward and closing the MacBook’s lid and pushing it to the side.
“Now, I will be the first to say this is admirable and that this is by no stretch a rejection of what we are trying to accomplish. However, I do want to push forward that there are more at play than meets the eye. If Sir Nimbus is the vision of charity, why have we been sent on such a do gooding mission by the Knight of Coins? Secondly Las Vegas is a city of fiefdoms, and we are walking into a Winter Wonderland. I have yet to answer the question if we are agents for some politically motivated hostile takeover that would otherwise be pinged should prominent figures start moving in.”
A pause.
“Secondly, what is the scale you are looking at? I can help get this set up, I can make a contribution. That is all fine - done and done. I just need to know what the scale is - how many bodies, dollar amounts, time frames, where we are moving them too or if we are playing this by ear.”
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Ivory
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Pres 4 (Regal) - SL 1 (Noble) Fairest Hunterheart
Posts: 588
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Post by Ivory on Mar 17, 2021 15:31:16 GMT -8
There was a look of relief as Archie at least seemed receptive to the idea of assisting the displaced. It was a good sign, considering their earlier difficulties with one another. Their heads seemed to be a similar place.
There was a nod at the words of the LLCs, taxation, and bookkeepers of course. That all made sense, but as the conversation turned to politics, the cordial smile faded slightly, replaced by a more stoic expression as Ivory sought to set the matter straight.
"Contrary to my overall aims and strategies for my own advancement, the politics of the Freehold on this matter do not concern me, Mr. Hartman," she said, "Regardless of whom sent us to deal with the matter, we can clean a few objective truths. First, the gentrification of this area in Whitney will continue whether the residents of this block desire it or not. Second, in the desire to satisfy financial needs and the want for the best possible price to sell, the owners of the buildings these tenants rent are going to continue bleeding these people of their money until they are offered a price from the developers they cannot refuse. Finally, the majority of the persons living in the region are likely working class or operating near or under the poverty level. Most do not have savings to move on their own. With assistance, I know I at least stand a chance to help those who are willing to request it. Therefore, even if the Knight of Coins or the Knight of Rains called me to cease, I cannot say in confidence that I would do so. Our ideals are important and, if you'll forgive the language, I'm not going to let some political dick swinging or virtue signaling fuckboys stall me from attempting to make transition easier for those involved. If they wanted to help in this way, they already would be."
There was a pause as Ivory composed herself and cleared her throat. The matter was a frustrating one to the Pale Dragon and, even with all the good Nimbus and Chugunkin did, their inaction or disinterest in helping the people of Whitney improve their situation after they were inevitably forced from their homes was a source of Wrath.
"The reality is most of our kind lack the establishment you and I enjoy," she continued, "Though I do not know of any personally, it stands to reason that some of the Lost will also be displaced. Helping the community of the block will in turn help them too."
At the question of scale, Ivory looked to the side considering it with a serious countenance as she tried to conceive an answer, but, right now, she did not have one.
"That would require more research," she admitted, "I have not yet traveled to the offices to get a clear idea of whom is going to be affected, but I am certain its at least a few dozen, given the nature of it all. I would need to look at averages for rental deposits and other entry fees as well before giving you a concrete answer, although that assumes we are granting a fixed amount rather than viewing each case separately, or utilizing experts to do so, in order to determine the need for each party. I imagine utilizing an application model would be best, with differing payouts dependent on income and family size versus needs and rental prices. People are stubborn and I doubt we will help all of them, as much as I might wish to. The reality is some allow their pride to get in the way of such things, but the take away is that this fund would likely need contributions over time until we are satisfied we have helped enough or those employed to oversee the fund determine that the need for the community is otherwise met."
The more they spoke about the matter the more Ivory was beginning to understand how complicated the matter could become. She doubted it was in the interest of Archie or herself to oversee the fund directly. People could be contracted to do so, but the question of scale and need remained unknowns. The matter made Ivory somewhat anxious, but she remained determine to assist if possible.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 18, 2021 10:29:55 GMT -8
Well there was certainly more to this tale then just the words that the dragon was laying down. More layers than an onion one could say.
He could only sigh as he leaned back in his chair.
“So, I am more than happy to help set things up - I do similar for people as part of my day job here so I am sure a non-profit won’t be a huge leap. I will even make a donation. The sheer amount of funds however, to make this work on any meaningful scale will need to be significant. Sure even tapping government resources will help - but how many families can we individually drag from the pit before we ourselves are unable to live our lives the way we do? I am not saying give up, I am saying expand - tap all the resources, do not go in with less resources than what it will take or there will only be heartbreak.”
He retrieved a pen spinning it between the tips of his fingers as he held each end.
“Where is this coming from, if you don’t mind me asking? I am not trying to belittle it, again, I am all aboard to help. But you said yourself, ``nuts to the establishment so I take it that this is personal.”
He wanted to know more if he was going to be putting the work and dollars in. He wasn’t stingy but he wasn’t stupid either - he wanted to know what he was jumping into when there was this much risk.
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Ivory
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Pres 4 (Regal) - SL 1 (Noble) Fairest Hunterheart
Posts: 588
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Post by Ivory on Mar 18, 2021 18:05:48 GMT -8
The Pale Dragon remained attentive to his suggestions granting a nod as he suggested broadening her efforts.
"I have some understanding of bureaucracy, though admittedly it's been some time since I flexed that knowledge," Ivory said, "One of the perks of being the spouse of a Congressman. You have some insight into how things work. If you pay attention, that is. I will broaden my search, as you ask."
Every now and then the Dragon could be modest.
The question of why earned a pause from Ivory, her golden eyes squinting slightly as she considered the situation. Ivory rarely discussed her past, like most Lost. It wasn't difficult for her to understand Archie's curiosity. He had only ever known Ivory as the wealthy socialite, he had no idea that the story was quite different not so long ago.
And frankly, the pair could use an expression of trust to solidify their burgeoning partnership. What better way than a glimpse?
"I have not always been this way, Mr. Hartman," she began, "Growing up, my family was quite firmly in the working class. My father worked construction and was able to afford to finance a small home when I was quite young to escape rising rent prices. It wasn't much, but it was ours and my father was happy to pay the mortgage over the next several years in order to give our family something we could pass on. Or sell, if we wanted to move elsewhere."
Then the Pale Dragon cleared her throat.
"I... won't go into too much detail, but my father later died. Construction accident," she said, keeping the explanation brief, "And so it became my mother's responsibility to take over the mortgage. She lacked my father's resources, however. Thus, unknown to me, she began to seek out loans through some less than reputable people, as she couldn't qualify for loans from the bank, but that only further complicated the scenario. One day, when I was 16, she couldn't pay them any more and left. She abandoned me, Archie. The loan shark's goons forced me out of the house shortly thereafter. I had no clothes, money, or anything of the sort. I eventually found a place to sleep, though. It was a stairwell in a parking garage, but I never got the chance to sleep. That was the night I was Taken."
Ivory let the gravity of the statement settle.
"This matter is important because I remember what it's like to be abandoned and tossed out of your home. Vividly," she concluded, "And when it happened to me, I lost my life. My humanity. I was gone for five years and came back to find a Thing masquerading with my face working the streets because everything else was in tatters. The example of what happened to me may be extreme, but I've always felt the lesson was rather clear. No one deserves to be forced from their home and, often, the circumstances forcing that change on them is out of their control. The wealth I've created for myself presents me an opportunity to grant people in the same or similar situations a chance for something better."
A small smile, this time of a more genuine bent than her usual cordial stoicism.
"And I think it is irresponsible for me to turn that opportunity away when I stand the chance to prevent someone else going through hell," she concluded, "Therefore, I can't allow myself to be dissuaded just because Sir Nimbus or his Esquire don't deem the project to be one worthy of their investment. As I said, if our Knights desired to assist in this matter in this way, they already would be. I do not question their adherence to Desire, I merely disagree with where it has been placed."
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Post by Deleted on Mar 19, 2021 10:19:17 GMT -8
Ivory let the dam loose here, to say the least. Archie could only do his best to remain a listener and let her tell her story. It was intense, and not an unfamiliar story for the Fairest to hear. Though it had a tragic component that he could relate to depressingly so. However it did exactly what he asked.
He had to take a moment or two to simply process what had been unloaded on him and how to proceed from here.
“Before we start setting things up, and start putting ourselves behind this fully may I ask one thing? Can we put our feet on the ground first and see where we stand. With all things considered it is in your best interest for the moment to divorce your sentiments from the task at hand. It is easier to accomplish both of the goals as separate entities versus a singular end.”
He leaned back forward and set his pen down before drawing his eyes back to Ivory.
“In the end, we can always pursue your project be it here or in any of the communities for the city.”
He slumped his shoulders a touch and let his neutral face sour some.
“How will you respond if people don’t want your help? Dignity is a powerful emotion and some will see this as a handout and insult even if it is a chance to help themselves.”
It was something he himself had faced with clients he wanted to help out of dire situations but there was sometimes no reasoning.
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Ivory
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Pres 4 (Regal) - SL 1 (Noble) Fairest Hunterheart
Posts: 588
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Post by Ivory on Mar 19, 2021 18:00:02 GMT -8
Ivory listened as Archie spoke. He wasn't wrong for calling for sound reasoning and the need to take stock of their opportunity, still his words chafed against the dragon's ideals.
"Considering my past, divorcing my sentiment is impossible," she offered, her tone blunt, "You may as well ask the Sun to stop shining. Lost are emotional creatures, Mr. Hartman. More so than most. I am no exception. In this case, I relate heavily to their circumstances. That won't go away simply because we understand it to be inconvenient."
Ivory was not trying to be confrontational, a point made clear by her relaxed nature as she took a drink of coffee, her golden gaze flitting to the view of the strip from Archie's office.
"And yet the situation in their community calls for us to act the most, no?" she said, though her gaze remained on the dazzle of the street below, "What reason do I have to delay for the moment? Our timeline is comfortable enough."
At the final question Ivory's gaze returned to the Chatelaine, his words bringing a slight chuckle from the dragon.
"I am no stranger to pride, as you know all to well," Ivory said, her brows raising as she regarded her compatriot, "There will be those who will not. It is an inevitability. Our role calls for us to grant those who accept our help the opportunity to gain more ease in their lives. More comfort... I won't lie and say that I will be unaffected by those who refuse our assistance. Certainly, the matter will come with some difficulty, but help can only begin when others choose to accept it. That decision is theirs and, should they deny it, the time will come to seek others who are more receptive."
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Post by Deleted on Mar 19, 2021 20:05:06 GMT -8
This was his house.
He was simply trying to be a kind host.
Ivory had a certain...Attitude.
At the same time, the Pale Dragon was nothing compared to She-Who-Conquers.
“You simply do not have things in line. I will give you credit where credit is due, you are not unable to make the dots connect in the end and you have not burned any bridges and you haven’t alienated your cause with it being hyper specific. However - This is a matter where patience, and persistence will pay dividends. Ironically this is the same approach that would pay off when dealing with the Knight of Coins task at hand.”
“Tell me Abigail - tell me everything you know about the neighborhoods we are looking at. Did you visit the office we were pointed towards yet? Do you know if we are stepping on anyone’s feet? Does the Winter King have his hollow in the dead center of this block? Are all these houses occupied? Or are they just owned by some guy on paper so he can put his boys from around the block in them? Have you asked Riley if they found anything when they went on the ground?”
“I have heard you out, I have agreed on the principles of the project, I have offered resources both monetary and professional - if this is some sort of olive branch? I have taken it. If this is something to do with a genuine lack of resources? I’ll happily step up to bat. But Dreams are not free, and I am not going to buy into yours unless we can work together to make it worth it both in its scale and chance of success.”
“Not everything is immediate. Not every victory is sweet. Not every choice is easy. If you rush into this - there will be a mess. When there is a mess problems will follow. So now sell me on this - tell me why I should slam my hands on the desk and throw caution to the wind and follow your judgement on this. You have my attention, you have my support thus far - but if you are dead set on your way or the highway, tell me what sort of risks I am assuming and please be forthright because you have already said a lot of things that concern me.”
He had given her as much as he could give without hitting the wall. However, this was all chasing glory, chasing immediate results, all spurned by a snub by the Verdant Knights? It wasn’t a priority the day before that, but it was now. He was never going to spurn the entrepreneurial spirit or the sense of charity this project encompassed. But it was a lot of give. He wasn’t going to be some silent benefactor and just trust Ivory. He needed a concrete plan at this stage.
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Ivory
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Pres 4 (Regal) - SL 1 (Noble) Fairest Hunterheart
Posts: 588
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Post by Ivory on Mar 19, 2021 21:08:06 GMT -8
Ivory listened as Archie spoke, though, as he continued to chide her for her lack of foresight or care in the matter of her consideration of charity, her gaze grew more distant and a certain sadness befell her features. It appeared that the pair was at am impasse. Archie considered Ivory unprepared and Ivory felt the consequence of leaving the people of Whitney to their fate called for action.
The Pale Dragon was not blind to the idea that the matter would take time, but it seemed the Chatelaine was more interested in the assumption that Ivory would be beholden more to her passion than her rationale. Ivory merely suggested she was not going to deny her emotions, but Archie chose to see it differently. It was his right and, frankly, this was his house. Ivory would not raise a hand against Archie in the walls of his office, but she also could not allow herself to be chided by the man for what she felt to be a just concern.
"I am uncertain why you feel my desire is to dive into this quickly, I have already acknowledged that the finer details of this plan will take time to bring together. I have also acknowledged that I still need to visit the offices to learn more and spoke of how we have some time before the aid will need to be prepared," Ivory said, her tone polite, but to the point, "Not once during my entire pitch did I say or evidence that my plan was fully formed or that I had the intent of pushing forth immediately. I know these things take time, but, rather than take that to account, you chose to determine that my interest was infantile and rash. I have already expressed a desire to work with you, I only said that I had a bias that I cannot ignore. I am not a machine, Mr. Hartman. You are asking me to put aside feelings and ideals with which I have formulated my being in order to make you feel more comfortable with how we can proceed. And I am telling you that I cannot do that. I cannot help how I feel, but I can promise to do my best to control my reaction to those feelings."
There was a slight shake of her head, the Pale Dragon clearly in disbelief that she had to defend herself in such a way.
"I never asked you to take a back seat," she continued, "I know that I need your expertise to make this work. I am not saying that my way is the only solution. I am trying to find a means of finding a route that works for us both, but... I will admit that I do not share your concerns. If Winter or others are adamant that these people are to be left to their fates, that is not something I can abide by if I believe I can make a meaningful change. We all had families once and breaking apart those who remain through avoidable struggles is irresponsible and unjust. There are other sources for their sorrow. The disintegrating lives of families that are slowly dying under the weight of debt and stagnation do not need to be among their Harvest. Not when Las Vegas provides ample sources elsewhere."
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Post by Deleted on Mar 20, 2021 9:54:17 GMT -8
Married to a congressman? That tracked with the back pedal. “Alright then. If we are going to do this we are going to actually see what is going on first, and then see if we are stepping on Winter’s toes before we start throwing money in their territory. Just as we would appreciate a heads up if they were going to be running through our backyards. No rush then, right? So we can always push this back a few months while we sort out our other business, while having it in our back pocket.”
He wasn’t going to engage in the roundabout speech, or her emotional pleas. If she was being true to her words this was the offer. It wasn’t going to happen tomorrow, or the next day, or likely while they were working with the Knight of Coins. He wasn’t simply going to appease her outrage that she had been snubbed by the middle nobility. Strong King - Archie — Today at 11:36 AM
Castles
I have info now, where is the root?
Wits + Emp + Spec
@dicecord-CoD roll 7
Dicecord-CoD
BOT
— Today at 11:36 AM
@strong King - Archie rolled 7 dice and got 1 success. 3 2 2 5 7 4 9
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Ivory
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Pres 4 (Regal) - SL 1 (Noble) Fairest Hunterheart
Posts: 588
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Post by Ivory on Mar 20, 2021 16:11:37 GMT -8
There was a slight shake of her head as Ivory signaled her disagreement.
"The conclusion of our business with the Knight of Coin only ends when the exodus of these tenants is underway. While I do agree that being methodical is prudent, pushing it back that far undermines the point of the project. We can be careful and still work to make the funds available by the time they are forced out in significant numbers," she said, "If we waited until Chugunkin's request is fulfilled, the damage will already be done. If Winter is your chief concern, I am willing to speak with someone about the fund, perhaps Sedna given her knowledge of the Coin's project, and gauge whether or not they would be willing to allow it. If they prove against it... then I will redirect my efforts as you suggest into another community in need. Are you willing to allow this compromise?"
The Pale Dragon understood Archie's fear and she was willing to adjust her timeline, but she wanted the funds to be available when the bulk of the tenants were beginning to lose residency. Otherwise what was the point?
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Post by Deleted on Mar 20, 2021 19:34:47 GMT -8
“Talk to not Sedna, who is clearly in league with the Knight of Coins.”
Whyyy.
“We have time on our side. Gentrification isn’t an overnight process - we are dealing with a hold out so we have months if not years as incremental increases begin to do their damage. This is the nature of real estate. Plus if Winter is against this I am not going to push their buttons and have them dig up everything and everything about me. Ever want a Silent Arrow shimmying up to you in a bar dropping your loved ones names, or your true name?”
Did Nimbus whip it out and piss in her drink?
“And the Knight of Rains, he was against this, why?”
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