video | open to both courts (yay non-locket devices)

[chromosomes]

I've been thinking.

[ John's sitting against the base of a tree somewhere, idly scratching a stray mutt behind the ears with one hand while holding his device with the other. ]

Seelie, Unseelie. Order, Chaos. Can't really have one without the other, can you? But that's the whole thing the courts want: one to win over the other. And that's with the queens being sisters.

Sort of seems like it won't work either way, in the long run. Not in a way anyone wants.

[ This would have been essentially blasphemy, once upon a time; treason of the highest order. But John has had no shard for eight months, has only the memory of a gold cloak to his name now. It's the Shuck he serves and the Red Hand he fights for, this world and its people and those he cares about. ]

But maybe that's just me.

[ He shrugs, pausing just long enough for the dog to look up at him and whine. A snort and he goes back to generously bestowing ear scratches. ]

Anyway, if any of you are looking for something to do, a way to make money, and aren't afraid of hard work -- the Red Hand's hiring. We're a mercenary group but we'll take all sorts; we can find a job for you, if you've got something to bring to the table. We have no court-attached contracts, are focusing more on what the natives to this world need, so no worries there -- and I'm a shardless son of a bitch, so no worries about getting spanked or whatever your court does for having conversations with the 'wrong people'.

Leave your prejudiced bullshit at the door, though; we've got all sorts of races and believers among the ranks. If you can't handle that, I'm more than willing to throw you out on your ass.

Comments

[wipedclean]

Red Hand was with the Seelie.

[He's curious, that's why he's answering, but he wants to figure out some things beforehand. He knows what he is, he's not going to go offering himself to anyone blindly. Not when he fully understands the damage he can do.]

[chromosomes]

Hired by. Contract's over now.

[ John shrugs. ]

Part of being a mercenary.

[wipedclean]

You not planning on doing court contracts anymore?

[He tilts his head, his eyes hard like it's some kind of interrogation. Because hell, maybe it is. He had friends who were driven out of Mair.]

[chromosomes]

No. We've got more shardbearers in our ranks, makes it weird to navigate court politics.

[ John just keeps petting the dog. ]

[wipedclean]

[He nods once. More questions now.]

You never said what you're aiming for.

[His arms are crossed and he shrugs a little.]

Helping natives is all well and good, and claiming neither side's got it quite right is fine, but what are you doing about it?

[chromosomes]

I'm not the only one in charge.

[ John shrugs. ]

You always speak this publicly about that sort of thing?

[wipedclean]

No. But I got reasons to be suspicious of anyone who claims their way is the only way and fuck everyone else.

[He practically hisses it out before he takes a breath and settles himself. It's a thought that's been brewing since... well, since he got here, really, but he hasn't had the capacity to really understand it until recently. But he understands now. He understands why. He understands himself a little better.]

I never gave the Unseelie my loyalty. People get it, if they earn it.

[chromosomes]

Which I never said, so we should be good there.

[ He's just saying. ]

I understand that. Thing is, monarchs still monitor the lockets, still say that you get loyalty or you give them your shard.

But if you don't have a way to speak that they can't track, we could meet in person.

[wipedclean]

[He shrugs a little. He's worked fairly exclusively for Ariadne for a while now, so he's not worried about the court being wary of him. If it weren't for Ariadne, he'd have fucked off to be Steve's shadow full-time. But there are, as always, multiple complications between loyalty given to people in both courts.

He lifts the obsidian necklace.]

I've got this. And a friend left a compass behind when he disappeared. But in person would probably be best.

[He can get a better read on him that way, be sure that no one's listening better.]

[chromosomes]

[ John's thinking along the same lines and he nods. ]

Name a location. Or have me name one, but I can be anywhere pretty damn fast.

[wipedclean]

[He shrugs again.]

I can be a lot of places fast.

[He considers. He's at Diasbaile now, but a conversation that's potentially anti-court probably shouldn't be happening at an Unseelie Spire.

The most neutral place he can think of is the Station.]

The Station?

[chromosomes]

Station works for me.

I'll meet you near the place that sells the shish-kabobs.

[ Can't go wrong with steak. ]

[wipedclean]

[He has to think for a moment, but yeah, he knows that place. He's been there. He can probably teleport right there.]

When? Now?

[chromosomes]

If you can be there instantly, sure. If not, pick a time.

[wipedclean]

[He nods.]

I can be there instantly.

[Hell yeah magic ring.]

[chromosomes]

Well then. See you soon.

[ And don't mind John buying some of that food for himself when you get there, Bucky. ]

[wipedclean]

[He doesn't get himself anything to eat because he's not hungry, but he finds John easily enough, walking over and standing by him.]

You didn't say what your name was.

[chromosomes]

John Grimm.

[ He'd offer a hand to shake, but there's money and food exchanging hands. ]

Yours?

[wipedclean]

[He might not shake it even if he did offer it, so it's probably for the best.]

James Barnes.

[chromosomes]

[ A nod, and John takes a bite of steak. It's rare, as rare as the man would make it, and his teeth are just a hint sharper than the average human's. ]

The question is "what are we doing about it" in regards to the courts, wasn't it? Giving the locals a voice, a place to stand, armed men and women who won't fleece them or shank them after getting paid -- that's something, as it turns out.

[wipedclean]

[He notes the teeth. It's interesting, but not necessarily extraordinary.

What John says is what's really important, and he listens carefully. He doesn't really give much of a shit about the locals, but they deserve more than what the courts are giving them, that's for sure. Which is what, eternal war?

Fuck that.]

And the conflict?

[chromosomes]

I'm not saying we have a plan for that. But...

[ His voice drops, almost imperceptible to a normal human. ]

We took Mair, now the Seelie have to hold it. They also have Cothromach and Parrais to defend, along with the Citadel and Caer Glaem. Their forces are divided. People could do something with that, buy more time.

[ Another snap of teeth on meat and John shrugs. ]

Just a thought.

[ He's not revealing the plan to anyone he's just met, and not to most he's already known. Not without some proof of loyalty, of service. ]

[wipedclean]

[It's a thought, and it's an interesting one. He considers John, tilts his head.]

Something?

[He's got no head for strategy. That was always someone else's job. He knows what he's capable of, but he's not going to run into some place without a plan.]

[chromosomes]

Maybe go point it out to someone with troops.

[ A half-shrug and he pulls some more meat off with his teeth. ]

[wipedclean]

[His brow furrows a little. Ariadne has troops, but he's not entirely sure there's enough to muster a skirmish at any of those places.]

Maybe. Something to consider, anyway.