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Post by Krakenbox on May 10, 2022 12:11:30 GMT -8
The cat masquerading as a man straightened from the predatory posture, examining his nails as he waited for the Elemental to continue.
"If we are selling secrets or stories, I am willing to lend an ear to appraisal. I do promise that if the information meets my standards, I will reduce the cost."
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Post by Blaze on May 11, 2022 13:29:49 GMT -8
The Elemental nods. She contemplates Sealing the statement, although such a blatant indication of mistrust might not fly well with what might be their one shot at freedom. Its assurance alone will have to do.
"Very well then. Listen while I tell you about..."
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Post by Wayland on May 12, 2022 19:51:57 GMT -8
Wayland nods to Lotus as she joins them. She’s trying to keep her attention on Henley’s advice, while also keeping one ear on the goblin and Blaze as they discuss. It’s a challenge, but eventually Henley’s said what he could say, and she thanks him and hangs up the phone, then takes the opportunity to draw closer to Lotus and lower her voice, to update her. “Thanks for coming. Right now we’re negotiating to find… someone. Once we know where to find them, we could really use your help. I don’t want to go into detail just yet,” her eyes flick at the Hob, “But I’ll fill you in later.”
As the discussion continues, she leans forward towards Blaze, using a low voice to repeat some of Henley’s advice. Cats have excellent hearing, so it might be moot trying to hide their approach, but she tries anyway. Then she considers. What gossip does she know that she’d be willing to part with? Her discussion with Uriel rises in her mind, but it’s immediately discarded. She won’t give a goblin ammo against her queen. “If you lower your price, I can pay you partially in gossip. Not big secrets, but… juicy.”
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Post by Krakenbox on May 15, 2022 11:20:19 GMT -8
The Broker tilted its head with Blaze's retelling, "Perhaps if I knew who betrayed who. Which monarchs are fighting each other? What is your hot take? As for the obituary...that is quite heartfelt, Onyx adherent, but if everyone is dead then the story is finished." It waited to see if the Elemental would offer up who was walking around the Freehold while shouldering all this sorrow.
Eyes dilated with the story of the warehouse spiraling out of control, punctuated by a sharp chuckle as it nodded. "That one is a doozy, and I am sure you will think twice about underestimating mortals. That alone is worth twenty percent, I think."
The human-appearing Hob waited for Wayland to elaborate on what gossip she was offering, smiling patiently. You could almost see the tail flick.
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Post by Blaze on May 21, 2022 13:29:55 GMT -8
Blaze raises an eyebrow.
"My hot take? My hot take is that people are going to start taking sides, and soon we will have multiple factions across Court lines. Formal or no, new leaders will emerge. It's up to you to make them come to you for that crucial edge before the new, refreshed state of the freehold crystallizes itself."
The hob was stingy and drove a hard bargain, just like Henley said it would. It was a challenge to give it something more without revealing too much.
"And not everyone is dead: a survivor of Chico named Aster Blau made this story known to me. And to the freehold - I think it turned heads, so my advice would be to watch out for her career, she might be going places. And the story itself had something of an impact - just the right mix of hope and cautionary tale that makes people eager to deal."
She punctuates that last bit with a small smile.
"Do you see what I did here? I gave you actionable leads so you can get rich on making my home stronger: you can't honestly expect I'm going to sell you everyone's dirty laundry, but it's definitely worth loosening the purse strings"
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Post by Krakenbox on May 22, 2022 20:41:34 GMT -8
The Broker did smile, "All right, thirty percent then. It is not currency if you tell me to go ask the sovereigns if there is something they want to tell me about their peers, but I can respect the attempt at sounding interesting. A finder's fee at least for the leg work that would require on my part."
It seemed to mull it over, glancing skywards as the youthful visage ran some numbers, "Would you have anything on what happened to Golden Boy? His fate turned on a dime from being a snack for spirits and ghouls, to wielding the Silent Arrow and the dead as one. That does not exactly follow the Story, does it?"
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Post by Blaze on Jun 4, 2022 11:12:57 GMT -8
She can't help but wonder if the hob actually intended to sound insulting or if it's some function of its nature. The goblins she met so far were rather shallow individuals - if you can even call them that - and sentient narrative roles, alien but in a way less complicated than humans. Blaze merely crosses her arms on her chest in response.
"I wouldn't call sudden changes of fortune not following the Story. Sometimes Lady Luck just has a weird sense of humour."
The negotiations were effectively over. There's a limit to the breadcrumbs she was willing to feed to the Broker, and the internal workings of Winter were definitely not within those limits. She could imagine the leak being traced back to her, and should the context of this deal also come to light, it'd place her in a very bad position.
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Lotus Eater
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Presence (4) Capable |Rigid Mask | Winter Mantle | Status (Licensed Security) | Autumn Goodwill (1)
Posts: 74
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Post by Lotus Eater on Jun 10, 2022 13:59:33 GMT -8
Lotus shifted glancing between Blaze, the Broker and Wayland.
The Broker was a trader of secrets, something that put Lotus a bit ill at ease. Not knowing what quarry her friends were after, Lotus was unable to offer much to help lower the cost at hand.
She crossed her arms and glanced the Broker over for a moment when he asked about the new Winter King. She couldn't help but wonder, who the feline broker would sell such information to if he had it.
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Post by Krakenbox on Jun 12, 2022 16:43:38 GMT -8
Wayland sighed as she stared down the barrel of being indentured to more faerie machinations that would potentially bite them once they were in the Skein and the Goblin started raking it in when their lives were on the line. Going off Henley's advice, she requested the Cat follow her to speak in private and drop the pressure of others listening in. A shadow broke off in the form of a black cat to trot after her, tail swishing in the air like a question mark.
The human-skinned hob didn't seem content to just drop the hook with Blaze, chuckling quietly as it regarded both tight-lipped Winters. "Changes of fortune? Sure, I was genuinely curious why your monarch saw fit to pass on the crown. Or how, if there was a challenge involved. I know the dragon had been tasked with a nasty mission near the end, but the details elude me. Then there was that whole business with the Ogre. It does not take a master of observation to see the tension there."
The Broker watched carefully for any hint of registration on their faces, beginning to pace again with slow, methodical steps. Its eyes flashed gold as it looked over its shoulder to track them, "The timing of his motleymate finding the Bane of She-of-The-Sanctuary shortly after his rise seemed interesting. Just in time to save the Sun's Tongue from frontline warfare. I wonder who had the power to guide that particular venture." He wouldn't imply Loyalism out loud; the Lost were offended easily. "The golden thief sits on a lot of Freehold blackmail. I personally think he hates all of you on a level that only Arcadians can understand."
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Post by Blaze on Jun 29, 2022 14:14:29 GMT -8
"Your insight is appreciated."
It felt like a right thing to say at the time, being polite enough while also attempting to cut the subject and go to the meat of why they're here.
"But I'd more like to hear about the topics Wayland and I asked about."
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