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>>2815686
You briefly ask yourself if she might be waiting in ambush to attack Ramona and then immediately discard it. That's never been Natalia's style. The Kitchen, maybe? But that's closed for the Autumn. Vickie might go there when she's stressed, but Vickie actually cooks. Natalia's into sex, drugs, and...

Oh. Duh.

You head back up the stairs and go to the Music Room. Technically it's a party room (there's two, three if you count the ballroom) but since this one's soundproofed it gets to be the Music Room. You open the door and get hit with a wall of sound.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xkFZn4oPMqE - Coyote Kisses, "Six Shooter"

Natalia drills in the center of the room, with her saber in one hand and her other open and ready. Her form is fluid, quick, and incorporates a lot of quick motions with her free hand - light touches meant to steal the life from her opponent. You wince at the volume she's got the music at, but step inside and close the door anyway.

Natalia notices you during a sweeping slash and starts towards you with her saber leading before she realizes that you're Colors and not, for instance, Random Assassin, and jerks herself back. You flash a sheepish smile in silent apology; Natalia rolls her eyes, pulls a remote from her pocket, and jacks the volume way down.

"Ramona send you after me?" Natalia asks. You shake your head. "Peters? No?"

"I sent me after you," you tell her. "I wanted to ask more about - well, about your vision for Spring."

That gets you a cocked eyebrow. "Vote's over, Warlock Knight. You might recall making a speech up there."

"Am I not allowed to be curious? You're my liege's friend and we barely interact. I always got the impression that you don't like me much but...I've got no problem with you."

Natalia sighs, then goes to the wall so she can haul a couple of chairs into the center of the room. She perches on the back of hers, feet on the seat, and hunches in a way that's painfully reminiscent of Vickie, with her elbows on her knees. She waits while you take your own seat.

"Got the feeling I don't like you, huh." Natalia clicks her tongue softly and shakes her head; even that small sound snaps your eyes back to her. "...Not exactly right, but true enough, I guess. I don't like the idea of you. Spring's been taking in freeloaders and refugees, and they don't come free. Arthur's decision to spare Liz fucking Malloy should have been on him, but who's feeding and housing her? Spring. With the youngbloods at least we split the bill with Winter, but when you came staggering out of Philly, begging for your renewal, too fumbling to even really live your own life at first? That came out of Spring coffers, Spring's time, Spring's effort. I dunno if you've noticed but dealing with our own problems is already emotionally draining, let alone every serial killer with a sob story that thinks they have what it takes to blossom anew."

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>>2815771
You look down at your boots, your face falling, but your eyes snap back up when Natalia starts to speak again, her voice softer now.

"I was wrong about you at least," she tells you. "But that doesn't change things. When Leo reigned in Summer we got no respect; we were a bank with whores to him, and I'm glad he's dead. I thought, with everything changing, maybe it's our turn now. Our turn on top, with the other Courts having to pay their respects to us. Ramona goes on about how collaboration isn't the same as compromise, and I see it sometimes, and other times...other times it feels like she just goes out of her way to make the others happy with nothing in return."

"What will you do now?" you ask.

The Darkling snorts and shakes her head. "I really fucked myself up there, didn't I? That position was my access to the other Courts and their access to Spring, and I just...gave it away."

> You can't undo it now. You gotta hit the ground running.
> I don't quite understand what actually happened there.
> ...Some things got said that reminded me of things Vickie says. If you don't. If you don't mind talking about that?
> Is a change of heart out of the question?

>>2815783
> I don't quite understand what actually happened there.

These options could use a little explanation but I think this might be the best one

>>2815783
> ...Some things got said that reminded me of things Vickie says. If you don't. If you don't mind talking about that?

I'm curious to hear her take on what happened too, but I'm more interested in breaking her down and seeing if we can put her back together. Where Natalia moves forward from here will shape the Court, and likely impact the entire Freehold. It'd be nice to understand her a little more deeply.

>>2815783
> ...Some things got said that reminded me of things Vickie says. If you don't. If you don't mind talking about that?

>>2815783
>> Is a change of heart out of the question?
AND
>You'll always be respected by Summer for your combat prowess.

>>2815783
> I don't quite understand what actually happened there.

>>2815783
> I don't really understand what happened. What is an April Maid?

> Still, though, if it was just about a powerful position, maybe leaving means other opportunities are now open? Or maybe that even though you benefited from it, it wasn't actually giving you what you needed.

> I did note that you said you weren't going to do Ramonas dirty work any more. I can somewhat relate to that. It's hard to leave that behind.

> Then again this is Spring in (where are we again?), not Summer in Philly. If you really believed you were needed in that role and were the best person, is it so bad to go back? You didn't swear an oath on quitting, or at least on not returning.

> If you don't know what to do, you could always call up Rook. He's also gone through something similar, and for a Wizened he's given me really good advice about . . . Well, not what way to go but how to make sure I'm seeing all my options and not just acting out of habit.

Maybe a dumb question, but is the April Maid always female according to tradition ? There is no male equivalent in this Court's Spring, yes ?

>>2815783
> I don't quite understand what actually happened there.

All the confused colors

>>2815783
> I don't quite understand what actually happened there.

It's been a while since we did the Elemental Thing. Let's be extra foolish for once!

>>2816397
If it helps, you may recall that when Zoe was crowned she announced that she would confer with the Lords of July & December, and with the April Maid. Likewise, the Lady of November (Zoe), along with the Lord of July and the Lord of December (Arthur and Misery, respectively), were invited to attend and speak on this election. The other Monarchs are referred to by those Lord/Lady titles out of season or if for any other reason they are not currently being The Monarch.

Called, writing.

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>>2815783
You sit in relative silence for a moment while you try to figure out what it is you're trying to say. The music in the background continues along a playlist whose theme appears to be 'high energy rock' and 'about love'.

"Can I admit something without being an idiot?" you ask at last.

"Stupid is as stupid does, but go on."

"I'm not entirely sure what just happened," you confess. "As in...I'm not sure...what exactly does the April Maid do?"

Natalia blinks and leans forward on her chair. "Well...the April Maid, or April Master, is the equivalent of Summer's Lord of July, Autumn's kinda disused Lord of November, and Winter's Lord of December. Y'know, Arthur, Zoe, and Misery."

You gesture vaguely; you can feel your cheeks burning. "If I said I'm not sure how that's different from being the monarch...?"

"Ah, that's where we lost you." Natalia nods and sits back up a little straighter. "I wonder how many others might not know," she murmurs to herself, and then she keeps going, looking back into your eyes. "Okay, so, politics lesson. There are four Courts, and they have to trade power four times a year, with each Court ruling absolutely during its own Season. You knew that part already, but let me ask you this: does the Summer Court stop having needs during Autumn, Winter, and Spring?"

"Definitely not," you answer immediately. "Guns need ammo, gyms need to refresh first aid kits every now and again, soldiers need training, food, equipment, Summer's gotta pay rent on its holdings..."

"Exactly." The Emerald Princess shifts on the back of her chair, gesturing with her sword hand to go with the easy, educational tone of her hypnotic voice. "And that's not even getting into ideals, or preferences, that the Courts might have. When Raven first founded the Freehold with the other three original monarchs, there was concern over this reality. The King of Autumn foresaw conflict created of a lack of knowledge of, or concern for, the other Courts, which would turn into petty revenge during the seasons of those Courts. Our first Spring Queen, Spring-Heeled Jacqueline, proposed the creation of four titles for the individual Courts to appoint to the Freehold. These Lords, and the April Maid, represent their Court outside of its season as an acknowledged leader and point of contact."

You make the connection in your head. "So when you need Winter outside of Winter, you talk to the Lord of December and he communicates what his Court wants and needs."

"You've got it," Natalia says, pointing at you. "Now, traditionally the monarch was also the Lord. Ramona's innovation was in appointing someone else - me - her April Maid, allowing her to essentially be two monarchs at the same time. I handled the politics with the other Courts, freeing her to set broader strategies and goals, and to ride herd on the pack of poor wretches we call Spring."

"They're not wretches," you assert softly. Natalia holds your gaze for a long moment, and then looks away.

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>>2818887
"In any event, that's shot," the Darkling continues. "I resigned. Ramona can't appoint me again without losing face, and I can't accept that appointment without it either. No offense, but I'm not exactly about to ask an Elemental for advice there."

You stand and stretch. "That's racist."

"Keep telling yourself that, Miss What Was Your Job Again." Natalia slides off of her chair and drags them both up against the wall. "You get up for a reason there, Warlock Knight?"

> Want someone to spar with? (FREYA)
> I've been meaning to learn how to dance. Know someone who might have new free time? (SIF)
> I'm just going. It seems like you might want some time to yourself, but I've got a cell phone. If you want someone to talk to, sometime? (THOR)

>>2818903
> Want someone to spar with? (FREYA)
I mean, this is an appropriate choice, both because of Colors character and since Ramona might enjoy a chance to vent her frustrations.

>>2818903
> I'm just going. It seems like you might want some time to yourself, but I've got a cell phone. If you want someone to talk to, sometime? (THOR)

Also

> I'm here because I at least know that I don't know very much. I stood for Ramona, and thereby against you. But that doesn't mean I don't respect the position you held, or the woman that held it. I know why I supported Ramona, but I don't even know if I really oppose you.

It occurs to me that we first praised our main antagonist, and then pursued the leader of the opposition to learn about them.

And that's why I picked Thor. We aren't clever, we aren't sensitive or subtle. So we power through on honesty with ourselves and others and act in good faith.

>>2818903
> I've been meaning to learn how to dance. Know someone who might have new free time? (SIF)

>>2818903
>> I'm just going. It seems like you might want some time to yourself, but I've got a cell phone. If you want someone to talk to, sometime? (THOR)

>>2818935
Who are you calling "main antagonist" anon? I don't see Rainbow John here, nor the king of philly.

Ignoring that, sure our elemental nature does make us a bit clueless... but that justification works for literally all of the choices.

>>2818935
>> I'm just going. It seems like you might want some time to yourself, but I've got a cell phone. If you want someone to talk to, sometime? (THOR)
>Also
>> I'm here because I at least know that I don't know very much. I stood for Ramona, and thereby against you. But that doesn't mean I don't respect the position you held, or the woman that held it. I know why I supported Ramona, but I don't even know if I really oppose you.

Seconded.

>>2818903
>> I've been meaning to learn how to dance. Know someone who might have new free time? (SIF)
Seems the most Spring; and even if it seems the most awkward; seems like she could be pushing herself. Failure is the best teacher; and she might even succeed!

>>2818903
> I've been meaning to learn how to dance. Know someone who might have new free time? (SIF)

>>2818903
>> I've been meaning to learn how to dance. Know someone who might have new free time? (SIF)

>>2818903
>I'm just going. It seems like you might want some time to yourself, but I've got a cell phone. If you want someone to talk to, sometime? (THOR)

>>2818952
Cherry is our main Antagonist in Spring.

> Cherry Kinkaid: In a Spring Court defined by deliberately rejecting the stereotype of Spring as being sex-crazed addicts, Cherry Kinkaid, the Sage Escort, is the self-professed (and often-confirmed) expert on matters of lust, seduction, and love. A Hunterheart Beast, Cherry likes to meet people one-on-one so she can sound them out, listen to their problems, offer advice, and quite possibly leave them unable to get out of bed in the morning from sheer exhaustion. You and she have problems stemming from your handling of Carroll House.

So in the context of the conflict we just had she WAS the main antagonist.

Rainbow John is dead, as well.

The King of Philly is also just that, a King.

Like Trevor said outright

> "You would know." You resist the urge to try and dodge immediately and are rewarded; he looses and you twitch aside, letting the shaft pass between you and Erin. "This isn't Hound business, Colors. This is revenge."

And Miranda told us it was Francesca's plan

> Miranda clears her throat and continues. "Francesca originally proposed the attack. With the Tribunal cut down to three members we didn't feel it was worth the risk...until we were approached by Susan Moore. Colors' Fetch.

Andy doesn't like us, sure, but he's not actively working against us in any way. If anything, our past with Philly is what we're struggling against. We could always have just choose to, you know, NOT fight Andy.

In all honesty there might still be the possibility of a peaceful resolution, if not for the fact that Arthur hates Philly's Summer Court and especially Hounds, and that Zoe is so much edge she doesn't so much walk around as cut through the scenery.

There's also Valkyrie to consider. The US Government is NOT a fan of even limited private wars on domestic territory. They might want a non-destabilizing resolution and have the ability to provide support/threaten to make it stick. Especially with how Oaths work.

It will be murder and assassination even by Court customs. Of a political and cultural leader, even if he's an evil one.

> Note to self, see if we can sound out Valkyries position on Philly.

>>2819095
>>2818903
I'll support this. After all, Natalia just pointed out that we aren't good or even interested in clever schemes.

It's just an honest effort to learn about what Natalia thinks Spring should be, because we don't really know anything about it and we aren't about blind loyalty any more.

>>2819805
>or even interested in clever schemes.
We're interested in the Rook's "clever" schemes.

>>2819790
Ah my bad, I mistook you as referring to Natalia as our main antagonist, which didn't make any sense. Cherry as a main antagonist (at least for our Spring Court arc) I can agree with.

That said, I disagree with the Thor path here as being incongruous with how we've played Colors so far. Colors has consistently reached out to people and sought to understand and help them even when it is a bother, really embodying the speech we just gave about Ramona's Spring. The Thor route here is very much a washing our hands of the issue, which doesn't sit right with how we've already involved ourselves.

Picking Thor here isn't just "hey we're an Elemental and don't understand social cues", it's going against our core drives to be a Knight.

>>2819883
>The Thor route here is very much a washing our hands of the issue
No, we're making a new contact and just moving the rest of the talk to a later date. And Natalia isn't a Damsel in distress that needs to be saved.

>>2819883
And no, she isn't just/only a Virtous Lesbian Knight, as idealized by you. She is also a serial killer slut, oath breaker, and she hates her mother.

>>2820321
Those aren't incompatible. They're all important parts of who she is.

Do as you will. The story will go on either way, it'll just be a different tale.

>>2820321
Wew lad. Get popcorn for this salt

> Want someone to spar with? (FREYA)

>>2820321
Dude. Do you know ANYTHIMG about Thor? Dude commites Giant genocide for honestly rather spurious reasons.

Oh no, we're flawed! I know, it's unusual to see in a quest MC when it's NOT the anons causing it.

Also I don't see what being gay has to do with it. I didn't bring that up.

But a valiant knight is who she is actively tryint to be, since loyal murderer didn't work out too well.

>>2819883
> Hey, if you want to hang out later, I'm open to listening.

It's literally the opposite of washing our hands, keeping communication open without pushing it.

It's also treating Natalia as a serious player still, not inviting her to come dance which is honestly falling back into the old patterns of sluttery more tham anything else.

>>2819833
> There were things Thor did when something went wrong. The first thing he did was ask himself if what had happened was Loki’s fault. Thor pondered. He did not believe that even Loki would have dared to steal his hammer. So he did the next thing he did when something went wrong, and he went to ask Loki for advice.

> I’m not happy about any of this,” said Thor. “I’m going to kill somebody soon, just to relieve the tension. You’ll see.

Quotes from Neil Gaimans "Norse Mythology"

>>2820269
And I feel that what she really wants more is respect from people than "pity" friendship.

Because. You know. The whole thing where she outright said it to Ramona.

>>2820404
>Wew lad. Get popcorn for this salt
What does that even mean ? I was fairly surprised that someone is missing the elephant in the room, that's all. I'm not one of those "Trump is Voldemort" types.

>>2821851
All that stuff ia from her backstory, and we're well along the path of character development with plenty of learning opportunities and a consistent attempt to NOT be that person we were in the backstory, amd a pretty solid history of being so overall.

That's like, not just a major overarching thematic component of the Changeling: The Lost, but it even has mechanical effects in game like our Vice bonus or our bonus to Perception due to a pledge, or our bonus to Persuasion during or right after a Heroic Rescues.

Or how we made an enemy out of Cherry.

>>2821851
In fact, I would go so far as to say that thus is a case of people going "this ia whay my character would do" asking "what would this character be able to attempt vs want"

Swords and Sluttery is what we're food at. What we're comfortable with. But it's been a long journey to find a way yo fall aslwep without having to get knuckle deep in some drunkenly convenient tart while still wearing armour.

http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive/1867883/

> Ramona Rabbit nods. She leans back in her chair and takes a longer drink from her glass. "There is a question anyone wanting to have a duel in Spring has to answer. I ask them, how will this help you grow?

So offering to cross swords, or offering to go party it up, how does that help us grow?

They're the low effort options of falling back into old habits out of comfort.

>>2820269
>>2821471

What I was failing to articulate is that Colors has shown a pattern of what could be called a lack of restraint: she doesn't really *stop* whenever she's doing something. The idea of tabling something and coming back to it later isn't something we've seen from her before. I feel like a strange skill for her to develop here and now.

It's not a big deal, sorry if I came off a little heated about it.

>>2821916
Fair enough. I see it more as her not being sure how to approach Natalia who she doesn't have a personal relationship with, and whose official role we were ignorant of, without making superficial offers to "hang out some time".

I
We aren't going to comfort her, we're goking to ask her to explain her position since we voted against it.

>>2821894
I don't think that's really a fair rubric to apply here, because we're not challenging anyone to a duel and so a lot of the motivations for that litmus test don't apply.

But to take on your growth ideal: Is this a question of helping Colors grow, or helping Natalia grow?

If it's Colors, I'd argue that dancing is actually a field of expression she is unversed in. It's a kind of self-expression and enjoyment she doesn't really have outside her glasswork, but it's a social activity that will allow her to connect with others, actively struggling against her limitations as an Elemental. Picking the Thor route and leaving is, perhaps not growth, but change: the willingness to see a problem and decide it isn't ours, which isn't something Colors has ever done before. Sparring with Natalia on the surface seems like the least potential from growth, but Natalia has a rather different fighting style with her open-handed soul strikes that pose an insidious threat, and learning to face that is likely something new to Colors that she could stand to work on.

If it's Natalia's growth, it's harder to say as we don't know her very well. She seems at least decent with a blade, and Colors's perspective on Summer could be something she could incorporate into herself. Having her teach us to dance could help her in connecting to Ramona's understanding of Spring, and could convince her that the burden of helping others has its own reward and is worth the expense. If we give her our number and leave, maybe she calls us, maybe she doesn't. She was pretty serious about not coming to us for advice on her issue because of our Elemental nature, so I wouldn't count on it. And if she does contact us, I couldn't tell you why she would, unless she's going the obvious route and using our political clout to get back into power (although I give her enough credit to at least have a second motivation on top of that).

So if you're trying to go at it from the point of view of growth, *they are all good choices*.

>>2821894
>So offering to cross swords, or offering to go party it up, how does that help us grow?
Extremely indirectly, if at all. They might serve as avenues to make new contacts and create new bonds with people, who in turn might help us grow.

>>2821936
We aren't friends with Natalia, and we don't even understand what happened with the politics of the Court well enough to know if she even can interact with us like that.

Remember when Cherry talked about having a Spring fight? Remember how we just last thread brought that up? It's either offensively niave or insultingly dismissive of Natalias position, especially right after we torpedoed her bid to rule, to act all chummy like we just want to be friends without even understanding her. Like she shouldn't have any hard feelings about what just happened, implying we either didn't really personally care about supporting Spring instead of Ramona, or that we completely dismisse her position as not important enough to fight over.

When she just fought with us over them.

It shows no respect.

>>2821936
> the willingness to see a problem and decide it isn't ours,

But it fucking isn't. Natalia is a big girl, she doesn't need a pity friendship.

>>2821987
I highly doubt Natalia would want to hang out with us right after we spoke against her AND shut up her support from Cherry.

>>2822017
That is hilariously opposite of my perception of Cherry's lesson, and what just happened in the vote. Sure it exploded dramatically, but it's also *designed* to do just that.

A grudge is only something to work around if it exists, and from what she just said Natalia seems to think of what happened more as her loss than our attack. She's being far too nice to us for someone who resents that, and not an a saccharine "i'll get you later when you least suspect it" way.

> to act all chummy like we just want to be friends without even understanding her.

I don't think that's fair. We did just come *explicitly* to understand her, and it's not like we don't know each other. Colors and Natalia have worked together in the past, including within the first few threads of CSQ. We're not acting chummy, we're chummy. You could say that's the Elemental in us, but I think that's an empty insult trying to dismiss what we're doing and it doesn't hold real weight.

> ...or that we completely dismiss her position as not important enough to fight over

I don't see it as *dismissive* of the vote or the positions. Rather, I don't see how it could be. The speeches we gave were about speaking earnest belief in keeping with Desire, in Spring fashion. It's just like the duel we performed with Erin at the Summer Festival: each side went into the battle knowing they would get hurt, and did so anyways, and afterwards they gave each other a nod and carried on. That was a Summer battle fought with swords, and this was a Spring battle fought with ideals, one was sport and one was for keeps, but there's no reason the principle can't be the same. All relationships go through hardship, and Changeling friendships have harsh trials indeed. Just look at Zoe and the Rook - they're not enemies. They're working together, and are closer than they were before the Rook tried to entangle Zoe in a phony murder plot.

>>2822019
Oh it's not our problem, but that doesn't mean Colors is going to recognize or believe that. She tends to take other people's problems on as her own.

>>2822021
The thing is you're right, Natalia is a big girl. But we're not offering her a pity friendship, we're offering her a friendship. And we're not *making* a friendship, we're offering it. She's perfectly in her rights to turn us down, and that's totally fine. But it's not up to us to decide that, it's up to Natalia. What we need to decide is what Colors does, and that means asking what Colors Desires. Does she want to learn more about the shunned succubus, as much an exile in her grace as Erin in her infamy, or will Colors leave an open offer to happen if it happens, and go back to dealing with her own business?

>>2822021
Natalia burned some bridges, she could use new ones.

>>2822102
Yeah, but are we offering ftiendship oe political alliance? And if friendship, then *why*? It feels like Protagonist syndrome where everyone has to get their social links maxxed out.

>>2822198
I never maxed out more than two Social Links per Persona game, but I get your point.
I guess I just like Natalia and would like to see more of her.

There's been some troubles at work. Votes remain open.

>>2822416
hopefully the troubles are temporary

>>2822198
Charitably, we could say it's because Colors is a friendly person. To look at this from the emotionless asshole perspective, we could say it's because Natalia is a member of our freehold with a lot of sway (even after her loss) and if she ends up unstable she can cause a whole lot of problems that can't be easily fixed.

>>2822558
> and if she ends up unstable she can cause a whole lot of problems that can't be easily fixed.

And for some reason Colours of all people is the right one to keep her stable?

That offering to actually talk to her, when she's ready, isn't a good way to do that?

>>2822460

Based on where Vox has said he works (Retail Hell), I think the troubles are pretty much permanent...

>>2822581
You keep trying to look at this from a perspective of what the best thing to happen is instead of what thing Colors is more likely to decide. It doesn't matter if Colors is the best person for the job, it matters if Colors thinks she wants to do this.

>>2823516
> Never have any character growth with the excuse "it's what the character would do"

Deciding th3 limits of that is Vox's job.

>>2823592
Pfft, haha ok. I mean, the difference between a quest and a fic is that we the anons have control, so I don't really agree there. And on the other point, I for one prefer my character development to be earned and motivated by a scene instead of just randomly occurring out of nowhere for no reason, but you do you I guess.

>>2818903
> I'm just going. It seems like you might want some time to yourself, but I've got a cell phone. If you want someone to talk to, sometime? (THOR)

Man, cast bloat is a bitch.

>>2824633
It was literally given as an option, which I feel is a really good indicator that we've grown the required amount.

>>2825108
I really do gotta finish/update the character list & glossary.

If things go well, I'll be updating after midnight tonight. If not...maybe earlier.

>>2818903
>> Want someone to spar with? (FREYA)

>>2825556
Previously, on Cinderella Sanction...

>>2825720
Yeah. My life is a wreck. I appreciate ya patience.

>>2825753
Absolutely not meant as a jab at you, but as a reference to the prequel...scenes used in series like Star Trek and so.
I myself couldn't write even a one-shot if I tried, never had any talent for it :)

Okay, so here's what's going down:

Point the First: I am now unemployed

Point the Second: I need to be re-employed as soon as possible.

Runs may be disturbed by the job hunt. Expect updates to be less regular than usual. I will now be spending the rest of the night getting drunk and being angry. There may be an update.

>>2826298
>Not getting drunk and spending the time writing a bunch of updates with your loyal anons
Really tho that sucks, we're here for ya boss

>>2826298
Shut man hope things work out.

>>2826298
Oh noes. Can't pay bills off questing sadly :(

>>2826990
well there is patreon

>>2826298
Good Luck, man.

>>2826298

Here's to hopin' you get something better than your last gig. Gainful Employment In Your Field is better than retail even when retail ain't hell.

on an unrelated note- has anyone here had a chance to look at changeling 2e? I know the backer pdfs are out.

I'm wondering how much has changed from the beta versions- are they still running with "Design your court" idea for example?

Okay, so I have Things(tm) to do today. In a few hours I will come back, call, and write. You have my apologies for that brief hiatus and I look forward to resuming.

I'll also be announcing the update on the Tumblr for the folks that follow that.

Looks like a narrow victory for the THOR route (2 votes vs. the runner-up). Here we go.

>>2836045
surprised. it got kind of confused what with all the green text non-voting options

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>>2818903
You shrug. "I was gonna go. It seems like you want some time to yourself, and I've got...things to do, and a dog waiting for me with my friends. But..."

Natalia raises a slim eyebrow. "That a pause or is there a butt you need to do?"

Don'tthinkaboutitjustdon't too late your cheeks are burning. "But," you begin again, firmly, "I've got a cell phone and a lot of free time if you ever want to, you know, talk to someone. Sometime."

Natalia stares. You stare. The music changes to something different, something odd.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ZJCCiLKmPM - Metric, "Poster of a Girl"

"...I thought we got on well enough," you murmur. "I really don't have anything against you, Natalia."

You turn and go. You've got the door halfway open when that hypnotic voice stops you in your tracks and makes you turn your head.

"Number?" the Emerald Princess asks. "Same as your emergency contact information?"

"Yeah," you confirm. "Text me any time."

"Do Vickie a favor and tell her I'd like to see her at the next meeting once she's back from your trip. She'll know what I mean. You're free to come if she wants a plus one."

"What'll you do now?" you ask.

Natalia shrugs. "Go home, get changed, go out. Have a couple of drinks, fuck a college guy or gal who's down for a little soul-burning. Cry. And then go talk to Ramona about if I'm still her Princess or not. It ain't exactly easy to be friends with royalty, Warlock Knight. You sure you're down for it?"

You flash her a grin. "You're not even my first."

Natalia's surprise lasts long enough for you to make an appropriately dramatic exit, out the door and down the stairs. You get as far as the lobby when you spot Erin and Sally.

You get pulled into the taste of strawberries when you make the mistake of getting in arm's reach.

"That was fabulous," Erin murmurs in your ear when the kiss breaks. "Also your friends have been waiting for you."

You take a deep breath while you process the conflicting sensations. This is not helped when Erin steals a second kiss; she slips away from you when you tap her shoulder, which is good because you weren't totally sure she'd get the signal.

"Where?" you ask, because that seems like the most relevant question.

"Parking garage."

* * * *

There's an RV.

Specifically, Forum bought an RV.

Everyone is in the RV, that Forum is driving, which he bought, and drove, to this parking garage, including your dog.

"What in fuck," you finally ask, gesturing to the Everything.

"We are so not walking to Philly," Vickie asserts from inside, where she's playing Magic with the Rook with one hand and petting Fido with the other.

"It's only a three-day walk!" you protest.

"We are not walking to Philly," Literally Everyone repeats in chorus.

Gods. Fucking. Take it.

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>>2836596
Erin lays her hand on the back of your neck; when you don't tense up or warn her off, she rubs you there, gently. "We're hoping it's enough like the bus that with everyone here, plus Fido, you might be able to deal," she tells you. "No one's going to expect you to drive or be anything but strapped in. There'll be food, maybe a movie, and cuddly gals to strap in with."

"Jesus Peters, could you be a little less subtle?" Vickie says without looking away from her cards.

"Says the person who called dibs on the first shift," Forum drawls.

"You mother -"

The Rook interrupts with a wet, hacking cough that turns into heaving breaths as he tries to find his air again. "Miss Peters," he rasps, "has also given us a test trip. Something short, just outside of town."

"Is this about the payment?" you ask Erin curiously.

She nods. "I need something specific for the ritual door into my Hoard."

> Try it
> Refuse

>>2836611
>> Try it

>>2836611
>> Try it

>>2836611
> Try it

>>2836611
>> Try it

>>2836611
I really feel bad for Rook. Hopefully there is someone in Philly with strong Water affinity who can help him. And what happens when Spring Healing is used on Rook ? Does it get better temporarily ?

Called, writing. Honestly I probably should have kept writing that update but that's all the braining I had brain for last night; thank ya for your patience.

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>>2836611
You bite your lip and sway faintly; Erin keeps her hand on your neck, and the sensation is oddly comforting. Vickie looks over at you from her game, looking more concerned than jealous (hopefully...); you see her start to open her mouth, and then she doesn't.

"Izzat Colors?" Fancy's sleepy voice comes from the tail end of the RV. "Hey Colors."

"Go back to sleep," Vickie tells her gently. "I sorta kicked the shit out of you, you need to rest."

Fancy makes some indistinct mumbling sounds that fade away gently. You straighten up and nod. "Alright, let's give it a try. Right now?"

"Right now," the Rook agrees.

"Dibs!" Vickie goes to stand up and stops when the Rook sets his cards down face-down and raps his knuckles against the table.

"It is rude to get up from a game in progress," the fallen Prince rasps.

Vickie sits back down slowly while you work up your courage and get into the RV. "You're about to lose anyway, you've milled yourself down to nothing," the Darkling says. "Can't we just call it?"

"No." The Rook leans across the small table at which they are seated. "Let's make a deal. If you win this game, you can have the deck I'm using - yours, free and clear. If you do not, you spend the rest of the trip there, and the trip back, playing with myself and Forum, and possibly Colors if she decides to learn."

The inside of this thing is surprisingly spacious. There's a curtained-off section just past the bathroom; you can see Fancy sleeping on the cot-ish thing back there. Where most RVs would have a kitchen, or you assume a kitchen based on, well, movies, there's a second table and benches instead, along with storage compartments, one of them refrigerated, two seats up front and a bucket seat behind that for some reason. Shipmate Sally follows you in and taps Forum on the shoulder; he gets up to let her drive, and gets into the passenger seat.

Vickie finally stops biting her lip and looking at her cards; she looks back up at the Rook and nods. "We've got a deal. And since I don't trust your ass here, I think I'm gonna clear your board."

You watch with some fascination as Vickie turns some cards sideways, four in all, and lays one down ("Damnation," she says, followed by, "does it resolve?")

("It resolves," the Rook agrees, pleasantly enough, while he stacks cards from his field into a weirdly large pile of face-up ones.)

"What'cha got now?" Vickie asks, leaning back in her seat. "You can't end this before you draw out. I end my turn."

You slide into one of the benches on the other side and buckle in. Erin hovers uncertainly before you take her hand and pull gently, and then she gets in with you and lays her head on your shoulder. Forum gets up and shuts the door behind the three of you, grumbling the entire time, before he gets back into his seat and turns to watch the game.

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>>2838157
The Rook turns his sideways cards up-and-down again, says 'upkeep' for some reason, and then draws the last card in his deck. He looks at Vickie's cards, nods to himself, and does that turny-sideways thing again before laying down one of his own. "Laboratory Maniac," he announces. He turns it around and pushes it halfway across the table so that Vickie can read it to herself; the expression of growing horror on her face is matched only by the Rook's widening grin.

("It resolves," Vickie says after a moment, thunder rumbling across her Mantle.)

Three more cards get turned sideways, one of them some kinda gray-looking thing that isn't like the other two. "Consult the Necrosages," the Rook says, laying it out from his hand. "I choose to draw two cards. Does it resolve?"

Vickie looks down at her cards, over at the Rook, and makes a frustrated sound before she sets her hand down and slumps in her seat. "You played me, you tiny bastard. Good game."

"What just happened?" you ask Erin under your breath.

"I have no idea," your Fairest friend tells you.

Sally takes this as her cue to get this show on the road, and starts the RV. You tense up as it starts moving, which becomes holding Erin tight once you're out into traffic. Fido comes over under the table and puts his head in your lap.

"That's my brave girl," Erin murmurs softly. "Would a distraction help?"

> Movies? You said movies?
> Hey guys what's that card game you're getting into I'd like to NOT BE ALONE WITH MY THOUGHTS
> Just try to go to sleep. Just go to sleep. You'll wake up and be there.
> Write-in?

>>2838208
>> Movies? You said movies

>>2838208
>> Movies? You said movies?

>>2838208
> Movies? You said movies?

>>2838208
>> Movies? You said movies?

M:tG (especially with the Rook) is probably one crazy thing too many for Colors...

...for now.

>>2839338
Colors would have to play all the colors anyhow. She's no good at being mono.

Help my fogged memory, why is Erin nervous/afraid about being in the RV ?

>>2839725
Erin's not. Colors is. She had a bad experience with a car crash as a child.

>>2839967
That's how fogged my memory is ;)

>>2838208
> Just try to go to sleep. Just go to sleep. You'll wake up and be there.

>>2838208
Why didn't we just fly.

>>2838208
>Hey guys what's that card game you're getting into I'd like to NOT BE ALONE WITH MY THOUGHTS

>>2838208
>> Just try to go to sleep. Just go to sleep. You'll wake up and be there.

>>2838208
> Just try to go to sleep. Just go to sleep. You'll wake up and be there.

Seriously, nobody thought about flying instead?

>>2842651
> Could have gotten that mirror magic that would let us travel without cars, spy on peeps, become glass batman.

> instead we got a fucking Dyke dog cliche

>>2842434
1. Because Colors is capable of overcoming this phobia
2. Because you know have a weird Scooby-Doo ripoff thing that I approve of.

Okay, here's the deal: I need to write a resume, get it double-checked, and sling it where it's going. You have until then to break this tie. Otherwise, I'ma roll.

>>2842434
Your Motley assumed that being in a metal tube in the air was not going to be better than being in one on the ground. Also many Lost have...Concerns...about modes of transportation where they can't control their escape routes.

>>2838208
> Just try to go to sleep. Just go to sleep. You'll wake up and be there.

Rolled 2 (1d2)

Jesus fuck. Aight, called, writing new thread.

Throwing a die.

1 for the movie, 2 to try and nap it off.

>>2845089
Sleep it off it is. Gotta go keep this appointment and then we're gonna rock.

NEW THREAD

>>2845618
>>2845618
>>2845618
>>2845618