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Post by Krakenbox on Nov 15, 2021 17:03:12 GMT -8
Lucas had received a tense call from Eurydice, requesting his assistance in a delicate matter, where he had been marked as an agreeable mediator by the Sun's Tongue and Knight of Scales. Fawkes had not woken up after a couple of days, in which it was confirmed to not be drug-induced or a destruction of his hold on reality. Given the circumstances of the...sickness...that had swept the Freehold, Ricochet reported it rather than attempting to dream dive themselves.
And that was when Bastille's vassals 'happened to discover' the extensive documentation on Freehold members, sensitive occult secrets, and more than one outlawed Token. And that was when Solomon got involved. And that was when Cinderella stepped between him and Eurydice.
Whether or not Fawkes was a Loyalist wasn't on the table, yet, but rather the alarming amount of information the Onyx Courtier was sitting on if the Keeper was currently mining his head. His Knight had been contacted for proceedings of euthanasia if a breach was confirmed, and the infection already too rampant. Cinderella would be on the team herself, in which she contacted Yuan as an appropriate Spring representative with no obvious political agenda and a reputation left from rumours of the Ashen Hunt. Eurydice then asked for Chevalier's presence for the investigation.
Riley Sorsa's arrival with the She-Wolf was met with another surge of combative negotiations, in which the Moth produced the vines of Bacchus (owing Wayland a special favour for the supply in such dangerous times) to prove their mutual interest in Freehold security. The Ogre Knight had provided Riley with a volatile new Token to test in the Dream—the expendable nature of Fawkes' precarious position and Sorsa's reputation left politely unsaid. The hope was that its usefulness in destroying the Keeper's influence would be tried and tested, as they have yet to have a case of an individual unable to be roused from sleep.
It must have been bad.
From Riley's perspective, they had approached Benjamin Murphy with a Queen's Prophecy and a favour to a fallen soldier, to which he leant his Autumn blessings. The revelation of where they needed to be was disconcerting, but saved them precious time, and the Oracle proceeded to turn to his motleymate for assistance on the social maneuvering. Inclined to honouring favours, the She-Wolf simply asked for Riley to drink a substance that had burned through their system, and turned the Brightone's glow a volatile vermillion. Currently, she was preventing a very agitated Draconic from driving her lance through Afterparty's notorious liar as the Legate of Mists pulled a favour from the Summer Queen herself.
When asked if this was it, Cinderella said that the more they had, the easier it would be to influence the Bastion. Smile thin as they could all hear several arguments breaking out in the next room over, she asked that they just be careful with their choices.
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Riley Sorsa
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Presence (3) Captivating | SL(1) Stylish Mantle (2)Spring | Status(1) Entertainment
Posts: 913
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Post by Riley Sorsa on Nov 21, 2021 16:54:26 GMT -8
With the dream disease burning its way through much of the freehold, leaving many of the lost Wonton and looser than they have been in months, one would think the Twilight Dancer would be taking advantage.
In truth the opposite was true, RIley, was all about business and was taking the situation regarding Fawkes seriously. Their relationship to the sun banisher was a a complicated one, wrought with conflict and also support. Riley was ready to help, and despite having ample opportunity to rub it in Eurydice's face, the Darkling did not bite back at the former spring, giving her little ammo in her complaints.
“Gavin and Wayland are both reliable in a pinch. Though I don't know their capabilities regarding Oneiromancy. “ RIley tappe their chin in thought.
“Nott seems to have a talent for findin’ thangs. And Blaze seems reliable. Lucas you’d know more”
The moth looked the Lucus before pausing staring at the door where raised voices were, seeming fixated on it for a long moment before coming back to reality.
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Post by Lucas Chevalier on Nov 22, 2021 11:47:01 GMT -8
While Lucas listened to Eurydice, he was surprised to discover that he wasn't feeling the least bit stressed out by the whole matter. In fact, for all of his worries about his SAD going into full swing once the cooler weather started rolling in, he felt himself full of energy. No depression burnout. No executive dysfunction. There were even days he didn't feel like he needed his anti-depressants any more because he felt strong emotional surges that gave him bursts of energy. However, he had gone to enough meetings with psychiatrists to know that going off one's psych meds when one is feeling better can be an easy mental mind field to step into as the reason for improvement is often because the medications are finally taking effect. So he kept taking them for the time being and stayed on top of his daily meditation as well. By the end of the phone call he was already planning his next moves and how to tackle the situation. He promised his lover that he would be with her soon and that together they would find a way to make sure Fawkes was okay. Despite how good he was feeling, he knew this task was easier said than done. He reached into his pocket to make a series of other phone calls on the drive to the meetup location. The first Person he called was Blaze. Blaze was one of the few Lost in the Freehold who had any understanding of how dreams worked. They needed a canary in the coal mine who would be able to flag them if something seemed off and could survive a hit or two from a surprise attack by a Huntsman. She had already demonstrated that she could keep a steady hand in a high stakes situation on top of being in Winter. The second person he reached out to was Oren. Solomon was likely to be skeptic of their success if they did not bring one of his people along with them. Not only was Oren one of the more socially savvy Summer courtiers, but he also demonstrated a willingness to be empathetic during ugly situations. When Lucas attempted to convince the others to let him use the Wyrd gun on himself, Oren's words had gotten through to him more than anyone else's. They were both practical and empathetic. On top of that, he had been more forgiving towards Riley than Kai had been during Litha. At the time, Lucas had been greatly annoyed by it. Now he saw it was looking to be a blessing in disguise. After he was done making his phone calls, he met up with the others. He nodded his head in agreement with Riley when they brought up Blaze. "Yeah, Blaze is a solid choice. I reached out to her on my way here as well as Oren. He's one of Solomon's pledges. If we don't pick someone, Solomon is likely either going to insist on sending one of his people, or he will scrutinize every decision we make and insist on interrogating Fawkes. Which will in turn set off Richochet. An interrogation may still happen but I'd rather it be with someone we can work with and is willing to come at it from a good faith approach."
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Post by Cinderella on Nov 22, 2021 22:38:15 GMT -8
"Dreamweaving demands a lot of emotional projecting if you're needing to be strong. Gavin and Wayland are reliable, but being physically gifted here doesn't mean the same in there. Blaze I can definitely accept as being able to interpret a dreamscape and being a mental health advocate, but Nott's not an expert in that field from my understanding."
She anticipated the overly-cautious Fall Courtier would also be nervous about entering a realm invaded by the Keepers with an Oathbreaker watching his back. Nott was also Wizened in her social presentation and had no public assertion that she knew anything about Bastions and the Skein. "I should flag something important—since Fawkes is an Elemental, it's going to knock him off kilter every time you bend his mind to accept people he innately knows he doesn't want around. The less invasive we are about our list, the less risky our impact on his mind will be."
The Sun's Tongue gestured to the unconscious changeling, not wasting time as she moved, "You'll be using your glamour every time you try to bend his Bastion to your will, and will be fighting...well, his stubbornness is the best way I can put it. Do we all understand that there's the possibility that we are found by the Keep-"
Her eyes drifted to the damp blood creeping up the edge of the Sunbanisher's shirt, "-er? Like, I don't know what it can do in there..." as she spoke, she was already lifting Fawkes' arm and slightly pushing on him to examine his back. "...Like make your dreams hurt you in real life," Cinder muttered, sparkling gaze dancing up the claw marks.
"I don't think we got long. Thankfully, time dilates significantly."
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Riley Sorsa
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Presence (3) Captivating | SL(1) Stylish Mantle (2)Spring | Status(1) Entertainment
Posts: 913
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Post by Riley Sorsa on Nov 23, 2021 11:45:33 GMT -8
Riley glances down at their hands as Cinder mentions the use of Glamour. The Darkling was going to be going in limited and a possible ticking bomb if things went wrong.
"Then we don't wait around. " Riley glances at Cinder, Lucas, and Yuan.
"If Oren is joining us, the two of us can present ourselves more Fawkes likin' if needed." Another face in the dream realm wouldn't be a problem.
"As for Glamour...I ain't gonna lie. I am limited; I can't overdo it in there, or the results could be... " Riley Glances to Cinder for a moment. She had dealt with the issue before. How would that work in the bastion of another?
"Either way, we better not let the Keeper notice us. We should jump in. If others are coming, someone on the outside can get them in. "
Riley rolled their neck and stood up straight. Their vermillion illumination dripped from the slowly before evaporating moments before the floor.
"Lets kick this fuckin' keepers ass"
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Hua Yuan
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Presence 2 - Nostalgic; SL 1 - Flawless
Posts: 304
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Post by Hua Yuan on Nov 23, 2021 13:20:36 GMT -8
Yuan had been one of the first to arrive. He had been friends with Cinder for a long time and understood from her tone that something was wrong.
He had not expected to see Fawkes in that state. He also had no idea how he could contribute. Sure, he could dive into Bastions just fine, but surely others would be more useful.
And then the fighting between the nobility broke out. Not wanting shoulder stress he hadn’t been asked to, the Beast simply started humming a tune he half-remembered from somewhere.
By the time Lucas, and then Riley showed up, half an hour had passed. There was a lingering feeling of peace, as well as some resentment at being dragged back to reality. He had been content to listen for a while, trying to understand how he fit in.
Ah.
He was going to have to mediate and convince an unstable and possibly compromised Elemental that they weren’t threats. Riley and Oren were apparently friendly faces and something to work off of, but the Playmate was quietly confident that nothing beat his friendly demeanour.
Finally, he spoke up.
“I want a pledge. I think.” He looked around the room at the friendly faces, keenly realizing that he had no backing in this. “No, I’m sure. I’m not vassaled to anyone and that makes me nervous.”
He couldn’t help the side glance at Riley’s new colour, however.
“How many of you can Dream Step?”
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Post by Lucas Chevalier on Nov 23, 2021 13:44:02 GMT -8
Lucas furrowed his brows as he considered the different options they had. Time as not on their side. He gave an uneasy glance towards Fawkes' injury before returning his attention to the group.
"I can dream step. I've been in Fawkes' Bastion before so I don't think he will find my presence there as intrusive. There's barely any props to work with so it definitely runs the risk of being glamour spending heavy. The ocean looked like it was made out of crystal and there was sand everywhere.
Like Cinder was saying; he's going to be in a fragile state of mind. I'll take the lead since Fawkes and I are not only friends, but we're in the same court, and I've got connections with his motley as well. Once I step inside of his dreams, the two of us will become connected. I'm going to meditate for about 10 minutes before I dream step, that way, my mind will be better protected in case a Fae takes over and tries to keep us in there."
His attention shifted over to Yuan.
"I actually think it would be for the best if you stayed out here and kept an eye on his physical body. Out of everyone, you're the only one who has a chance of saving him if his injuries become life threatening.
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Post by Cinderella on Nov 23, 2021 16:07:26 GMT -8
Cinder chewed her lip, "I can dreamstep too. Thanks for the rundown, Lucas it makes planning a lot easier! Disguises could work, Riley, unless he's lucid and knows that a lot of moving parts in his dreams aren't the norm. He might actually be grateful for the help...?" No, no he wouldn't. It was Fawkes. "The Pledge I agree to as well, but... sorry, Lucas: the-She Wolf can offer her blood."
The fact that she had shown up was a blessing in disguise, apparently. Maybe it was Ben's doing.
"I'm not taking Riley in there without Yuan's blessing backing our claim. I assume you didn't know she can do that and I appreciate you making sure your courtmate is taken care of. I don't think it's ethical to gamble with Riley without Yuan's abilities, given pre-existing stressors and having no way of making Wyrd-backed declarations of trust." She did her very best to mask the annoyance of the added factor that the nobles had dropped on her last minute, but having one of the Witchtooth's inventions with them seemed worth it.
"...Did something happen to your harvests, Riley? How far do you think you can push yourself?"
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Riley Sorsa
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Presence (3) Captivating | SL(1) Stylish Mantle (2)Spring | Status(1) Entertainment
Posts: 913
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Post by Riley Sorsa on Nov 23, 2021 17:02:37 GMT -8
"I can't dream step. And Chat really do any oaths at the moment" They shrugged with a small grimace that said 'sorry'.
As Cinder advocated for Yuan to join the team, in part to be fair to Riley, it gave the moth a moment's pause. They gave an appreciative nod before Cinder followed up, asking about the harvest.
A small frown crossed their face.
" I guess Golden didn't tell you. " They say softly before drawing in a breath.
"My harvesting is fine, but let's just say that conservatively, I am at half capacity. If I go too low...well, let's not find out."
This was not the time to tell everyone they were a walking ghost bomb.
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Hua Yuan
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Presence 2 - Nostalgic; SL 1 - Flawless
Posts: 304
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Post by Hua Yuan on Nov 23, 2021 18:40:30 GMT -8
To stay that the prospect of preventing Fawkes from bleeding out did not spark joy would be an understatement. Not that Yuan was squeamish, he'd helped patch up some of the higher end Summer injuries. It's just that losing his grip on Reality in the process made it a tough sale. The She-Wolf's presence, and her life giving blood seemingly put him back on the roster.
"Has anyone checked his mind?" he asked as he moved over to the Elemental. Gingerly, he replaced limbs to check what Cinder had been inspecting.
"I- have no idea what I'm looking at," he told the Summer Noble. With the same moving, the Playmate brushed against Fawkes damp skin and reached out for his mind.
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Post by Lucas Chevalier on Nov 23, 2021 19:11:29 GMT -8
After hearing the combination of Golden Boy + Harvesting the Fairest tuned everything else out.
His attention shifted over to Riley and in the process his eyes glowed in an unnatural way.
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Post by Krakenbox on Nov 23, 2021 19:17:25 GMT -8
Riley appears the same way they have always appear in Twilight. Strange, what would motivate the Oathbreaker to assign arbitrary limits with so much at stake?
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Post by Lucas Chevalier on Nov 23, 2021 20:29:32 GMT -8
There was nothing in Twilight indicating that Riley was Open to ghostly possession the same way that Golden Boy was so it was odd to the Fairest that Riley expressed the same fear that Golden Boy had.
What had Golden Boy said to or do to Riley to bring about this fear?
The desire to know the answer and ride another emotional high was defeated by his concerns for the Sunbanisher. There would be time to ask more questions after they made sure Fawkes was safe.
"You're clean of ephemeral influence, Riley. If you are reserving your glamour because of anything tied in with ghosts, you don't have to worry about that being a factor. "
Lucas returned his attention to Cinderella.
"Ah, no. I didn't. I just wanted to make sure Fawkes was okay. I'm all for Yuan coming along with us. Having a trusted friend at my side will make this feel less daunting. "
He flashed a grateful smile at Yuan.
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Post by Krakenbox on Nov 24, 2021 18:59:27 GMT -8
Cinderella grimaced as she held Fawkes up so Yuan could get a better look; her thin arms indicated wasn't exactly weight lifting champion, and to her the Elemental weighed a ton. The Winter's feverish shell provided no insight as the sand crackled with white noise. As the Beast shook his head, she eased the Sunbanisher down with a relieved exhale, "Looks like something pounced on him, but that's definitely recent by how much blood's pooled." She tilted her head, "Not, like, a lot though? He might need some stitches. Dreams can do that to us, sometimes, where we manifest wounds...so keep an eye out."
The young Brightone offered Lucas a double-thumbs up, nervous energy barely masked as excitement while she tried to keep the group on a good vibe.
"All right, so- a Pledge?" She waited for anyone to indicate they were uncomfortable, aside from the obvious that Sorsa couldn't participate in the Wyrd's benefits. Cinderella wasn't in the business of making things sound flowery at the moment, breaking things down to Plain Language, "I solemnly swear to aid my gathered allies in the Dream to the best of my abilities, and to not betray their trust or safety to the Keepers, and uphold this standard even if my mind should fail. I will not abandon my allies unless they will it, so that we may escape safely..." her eyes flicked briefly to Yuan, remembering his own clause, "And I will take responsibility for my mistakes, and not allow my allies to shoulder my failures. If we break this pact, we will be crippled in the Dream so as not to further harm the honourable."
She was waiting on the others to add or weigh in, lest one of their allies burst through the door at the last dramatic moment.
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Hua Yuan
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Presence 2 - Nostalgic; SL 1 - Flawless
Posts: 304
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Post by Hua Yuan on Nov 24, 2021 21:16:25 GMT -8
The Playmate nodded at the explanation that was provided to him, even as his Contract bounced on Fawkes' iron will. "Stubborn bastard," he muttered to himself before moving back to stand next to Lucas and bumping shoulders with him.
Cinder laid out the Pledge, which sounded sensible enough. He had a pang of guilt when thinking about Riley, but he reminded himself that this was a consequence of their own actions and that it was good that they were being included at all. That the She-Wolf would led them her aid seemed curious however.
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