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Post by Wayland on May 22, 2021 17:51:09 GMT -8
The Maker considers these words, in the silence that follows Aello’s questions. Her lips form a thin line as she sucks them between her teeth, eyes distant, pensive. Then, settling on some answers, she shakes her head and speaks her mind. “Just because the Freehold is not under siege right now doesn’t mean it won’t be. The protections we have here, that’s not a natural state of affairs. That’s not something that always was, and always will be.” She turns her gaze on Aello, “And I can’t imagine that it’s something that happens without cost. Without work and sacrifice going into making it happen.”
She shrugs, and folds her arms over her chest, “I think you’re wrong about the Freehold not needing soldiers. Just because we have the Wards doesn’t mean Las Vegas is safe. Trods are degrading, growing more dangerous. And the revenant crisis reminded us that threats can come from unexpected directions. Faerie doesn’t just sit and sulk when we file a restraining order. Faerie is the abusive boyfriend who will stalk you, find a way into your life, and will absolutely hurt you again if steps aren’t taken. The other courts, they take their own steps. Ours is beating that asshole into the pavement if he comes close enough. We need to be ready to do that, because it means the other steps have failed. Because if he’s inside our reach, then we’re inside his. And I’d rather we hurt Faerie than let Faerie hurt us.”
She pauses for a moment, then uncrosses her arms, “So that’s the… cerebral reason. Mine, anyway. Be prepared, and be proactive. Just because you don’t see a threat at the moment doesn’t mean no threat is there. But… the emotional reason? For me? Is vengeance.” Her eyes go flinty at that, expression hard. “They don’t get to take so much from us and come out unscathed. Unpunished. They’re not…” she frowns, searching for the words. Licks her lips, starts again, “I don’t know that they’re even capable of experiencing pain like we are. Grief, like we are. But if it is at all possible to disincentivize them, to hurt them enough that maybe they’ll think twice before they take someone else… or to end them before they have that chance? Then that’s what I have to do.”
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Firebringer
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Elemental Ifrit, Presence 3 (Intimidating)
Posts: 634
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Post by Firebringer on May 23, 2021 20:57:08 GMT -8
Danica takes a moment to gaze at Aello. She's young - smart for looking for advice here, information. The Ifrit listens to Wayland as she explains her own connection to Summer and she nods along with. It echoed a lot of the 'action' part of Summer. Firebringer has never really been about the punch everything first rule that many Summers adopt. "Wayland, I like particularly what you said about us having to be ready to fight because it means the other ways haven't worked. Though, I've always thought of Summer as the pre-emptive measure. Vigilance of Ares keeps us alert and ready for ambush, danger, right? Summer blesses us with contracts like that for a reason. Doesn't mean, of course that it doesn't work the other way around as you said.
"So, we know there is the tactical reason for being in Summer. We know of the never-ending war against the Keepers; we have to stay vigilant and we have to fight back. We know these things. To me, Summer on a personal level is about finding a balance with the ever screaming beast inside of you. I'm angry about what happened to me, but it isn't just about payback. I'm angry and I want to prevent what happened to me from happening to others. As you said, everyone's job.
She takes a small breath, "We are what we are now, so we need to keep the Hedge where it is, its creatures where they are, and the Fae checked in their own world. We've got to push back to make that happen. Not every court is about that push back. Winter hides away, keeping us hidden, the doors shut to keep them out. Autumn tinkers and tries to figure out what makes them tick, figure out what we need to do to turn their trickery against them. Spring gives a big fuck you in the sense that we can enjoy life and seek our desires in spite of what happened.
"As for courtly emotion: in my opinion, the point of Wrath isn't to let it consume us and use its power as a means to fight. To 'hit hard'. The point of Wrath is to dig deeper into our own and find a strength in that. Summer helps me find that. It helps me find a way to keep going even though I'm hurt, even though I'm wary, even though I think I can't fight anymore. I have a purpose."
Fire shrugs, "That's just me. Everyone else has their own way," She looks around, curious as to how others might answer the Courtless.
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Linden
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Presence (3) Steady
Posts: 325
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Post by Linden on May 24, 2021 11:55:25 GMT -8
Linden raised a finger off their beer to return Aello's wave, in a fashion. It was an interesting question, but they had to fight the initial feeling that it was a very personal question, and therefore something they didn't want to engage with. Wayland and Firebringer broke ground first, offering their perspectives and helping to settle Linden's thoughts a little.
A moment stretched between when the Elemental finished and Linden drew in a breath. "There’s this prayer..." They scratched their cheek with a scarred finger, a little pink in the ears from trying to articulate themself publicly. "It's something like: grant me the serenity to accept the things I can't change, courage to change the things I can, wisdom to whatever whatever." One of their hands waved loosely, brushing away the end of the line of words- wisdom to know the difference.
"Accepting things you can't change- who is anyone to say what can or can't change? The action, the mettle it takes to stand anyway… even if it’s a losing battle, I want to fight. I see what’s been taken from us, what we’ve built, the kind of strength and hope that goes into gathering a community. It breaks my heart, and that wrath is the fuel that keeps me moving forward. We deserve better.”
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Post by Kai Rose on May 26, 2021 14:17:25 GMT -8
"The Keepers aren't the only thing that threaten the Lost. The enemy outside the gates is terrible, but when you take people with god-like abilities, give us impenetrable walls and as much time as we want to build our powers, we have the potential to be incredibly harmful to the people around us. Elementals can threaten whole city blocks with a flick of their wrists. Wizened can make weapons of mass destruction just because they want to. And the weapons aren't even the scariest part. Fairests can control the minds of hundreds on a whim and take everything from them."
She tapped the table gently, rapped it with a knuckle.
"The worst thing that each of us faces is the enemy within. In each of us is the potential for great good, or great evil. When you have the power to shape reality, you have the responsibility to do it with care for the community around you. Not just for our safety... but for theirs. And as we grow and grow in power, we need people to make sure we don't grow and grow out of humanity and responsibility. Enter Summer. Here, we aren't a roving gang protecting against Loyalists. Here, we're a professional service who defends our society against its enemies... and against its own excesses.
That's why I serve. We keep them honest, and when they aren't, we set things right."
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Post by Aello on May 28, 2021 16:41:28 GMT -8
Aello listens with a carefully crafted neutral expression; more to manage her respect than to project any sort of mystique. The mask slips for a moment as Firebringer gives her assessment of Winter, surprised and a small flicker of youthful smugness that she knows more about the court than the older woman...having an Onyx motley member had some advantages. "Damn, that's intense."
She snorts, realizing how she sounded, "Sorry, what I actually meant to say is thanks for opening up like that to give me some perspective...um..." The Beast nods, looking down at the table for a moment as she thinks, before nodding to Cinderella to indicate she was finished. "Sounds like your people are more about the Will to Act and see your anger as like, a sort of outlet to get the harder shit done and be prepared for the walls coming down. But it also sounds like you don't go as hard as Winter when it comes to the Reaping-"Cinder clears her throat, giving a small tick of the head. "That being said, I've seen some really weird shit when other Lost are left to their own devices for a couple of decades baked into the infrastructure, and how people are hurt by it without even understanding what it means. Systemic. I think Fall learns too much and gets too scared to rip out the weeds, and Spring can't really handle how nasty that sort of choice is when they're all about building above it?" Aello blows out her cheeks, not embarrassed about the idea of coming off as ignorant—she actually seemed more confident than before the meeting started. Her attention flicks upward. The Wyrd was heavy as the rattling spirits of the wild hissed from her mouth, guttural and ancient as the knowledge of Fate is rolled across the heavens. After the vision was read, she snapped a thumbs up at her motleymate.
"Aight, cool."
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Post by Cinderella on May 28, 2021 16:45:06 GMT -8
"So, to follow up on your question, Linden," she takes out her phone, "I'm sure everyone has heard about the new time crunch. I'm actually here to get everyone scheduled to pledge ASAP."
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Post by Wayland on May 28, 2021 22:25:57 GMT -8
The Ogre’s attention follows each courtier as they give Aello, and really everyone in the room, a little glimpse into their own personal relationship with Summer. Something Fire says, that Summer is about finding a balance with the ‘ever screaming beast inside of you’ really resonates with her. Her expression goes hard and she nods firmly when Linden talks about deserving better. And Kai has a good point; Wayland knows that she herself could become a danger to others, much as she doesn’t want to think about it. But in the end, Aello has the right of it; the will to act, letting Wrath give you drive and motivate you, and being willing to do what’s hard, what might even be impossible, because somebody has to.
Cinder’s mention of the crunch makes her frown and fold her arms over her chest, eyes going distant, pensive. It was a miracle anyone had survived that mission into the desert, from the accounts. A miracle in the shape of an Elemental standing next to her. But they could’ve done more. And the revenant crisis… those sleepless days and nights, fight after fight and trying to keep it out of the mortal eye. They could’ve been better prepared. The Freehold could’ve been better prepared. Better protected. Better armed. Yeah, it’s no wonder the nobility want everyone to start stepping up to do their part.
She lifts her gaze to Cinder, “I’d like to meet Bloody Mary.”
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Firebringer
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Elemental Ifrit, Presence 3 (Intimidating)
Posts: 634
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Post by Firebringer on May 30, 2021 17:06:50 GMT -8
It doesn't take Firebringer more than a few seconds to say, "I'd like to sign up with Bastille." And that was it.
She knows what she wants and she can only hope that it's going to be a fit. It might be a bit of a quick plunge, but since when has that ever stopped the Torrent before?
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Linden
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Presence (3) Steady
Posts: 325
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Post by Linden on May 30, 2021 19:05:08 GMT -8
"I'd like to have a meeting with Bastille as well," Linden said, on the heels of Firebringer's declaration. If he accepted both of them, they would be in good company.
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Post by Kai Rose on Jun 1, 2021 22:09:30 GMT -8
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Post by Krakenbox on Jun 2, 2021 18:17:00 GMT -8
The appointments are dutifully booked, Cinder thanking Linden for taking the initiative and giving everyone her contact information as Summer's diplomatic negotiator.
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