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

oh, this is compass but prob not private. let everyone see this embarrassing flirtation

[starspangled]

Hey, I wouldn't ask for any special treatment.

Unless it's from you, and then I am asking.

somewhere sam wilson is fistpumping

[chromosomes]

You're lucky I like you enough to say yes.

okay, he finally switches to private

[starspangled]

So how is the recruiting going? Running into any problems?

sorry world no more army vs marines in the bedroom for you

[chromosomes]

People being nosier than I'd like, pushing at our intentions. People saying they'll join but won't do X, Y, and Z. The usual, really.

[ John sighs. ]

I'm just hoping they're reliable. With what's coming... we need reliable.

they gotta leave some things for themselves

[starspangled]

You can't really blame 'em. The courts have burned a few people.

[It certainly wasn't what Steve expected when he first arrived.]

What's coming? Are we talking the usual here or something else?

[Famous last words.]

it's true

[chromosomes]

I can when they're new to this world and it's pure fucking naivety and stubbornness. This is war, this isn't the world they came from, and too many don't realize that.

[ They will. They just might not survive it. ]

The End is close. Very close. The Shuck's officially thrown His support to a third option, one I'm inclined to back myself. But it's... it'll be risky.

[starspangled]

I don't think I'm the guy who can call anyone out on stubbornness.

[The pot calling the kettle black there. But he knows that John is right about the end being near. He can feel it, the way things are speeding up. Steve perks up at the mention of the Shuck - anyone with any sense at all would.]

Third option? What is it?

[chromosomes]

[ Yeah, that sense thing has been the problem. ]

Mind if we talk about it in person? Never know who's listening, but so long as there's no wards up, the wind always is.

[starspangled]

[Why John Grimm, are you asking him out on a date?

No? Okay. At least Steve's still taking it seriously.]

You got it. Where to?

[chromosomes]

[ BROW WIGGLE ]

You in a good place right now? I can come to you, takes about half a second.

[starspangled]

At the clinic, all alone. Safest place I know.

[chromosomes]

Gonna need silencing wards.

[ Beat. ]

And don't punch me when I suddenly arrive in your living room.

[ which he's going to just

do now

teleporting cheat ]

[starspangled]

I'll - try.

[And it's between those words that John actually appears. Steve looks more impressed than startled, but then he knows a lot of people who tend to just appear suddenly. He smirks.]

What kept you? Did you stop for coffee?

[chromosomes]

Thought about it.

[ He grins, but it's a short thing. John gets to work on setting up a few silencing wards, rune-based. ]

Problem with the Cult of the Fox is Severine being half-sylph, and you never know who else may have taken a page out of their book. So protective measures.

Now- you want the short version or the slightly longer version?

[starspangled]

Well, I don't have any bridge games tonight, so...

[He waits for John to finish before motioning to a seat for him.]

Let's go with the slightly longer one.

[chromosomes]

[ bridge games steve pls

John takes the seat and sighs, running a hand through his hair. ]

A few months after I arrived in the Drabwurld, I met someone. Her name was Alyosha Hazan, the Hero of Redgate, who had established the city after losing her shard and had looked after the natives of the Drabwurld and kept out of the war for several centuries. But she couldn't stay out of it any longer.

I saved her life, she saved mine, and we became good friends. She taught me about the Void, about parts of this world that I hadn't realized were a thing. Reynard the Fox killed her, or so I'd thought -- she had been saved again, in a way. Turned into a vampire. She helped us take him out for good, started the Red Hand in the process.

And she had a third option, another way for this war that's not Seelie or Unseelie. A way that the Shuck, it turns out, has either orchestrated or thrown His weight behind -- not sure which.

[ He takes a breath. ]

Still with me?

[starspangled]

[Steve listens to all of it, an interesting story, but it's when the Shuck's mentioned that Steve really sits up straight. Whatever this third option is, it has some power behind it.]

Keep going.

[chromosomes]

This war has been going on for thousands of years. There are shards stockpiled in both castles, kept out of sight until they're needed -- or in the case of the Seelie, simply out of Unseelie hands.

[ John takes a deep breath. ]

We're going to break in, steal them, and use their combined power to cast the Void back to its starting place. It won't destroy it, but it also won't let it destroy us.

[starspangled]

[It makes sense that the Seelie would be hiding their share of the shards somewhere. For them, it's more a game of keep-away than anything. He looks away from John, thinking about it, withholding judgement. He could be impressed by the plan or think it's crazy, it could go either way.

Steve thinks that it's both, and that's probably why he likes it.]

How soon are we doing this?

[Because John put a tremendous amount of trust in him just by telling him this, and Steve's willing to do whatever he can to help.]

[chromosomes]

Once Caer Scima is mapped, we just need a big enough distraction. If the rumors are true, if what I saw at the beginning of the month occurs, it may be soon.

[ John- well, he does trust Steve. Unlike many others, he knows this trust isn't misplaced. ]

I'll let you know. In the meantime- do the mission you'll get, prove to the others you're reliable. Keep what I've told you secret, because there's ears goddamn everywhere.

And try not to die, when we do it.

[starspangled]

[Steve nods softly, but it's only when he reaches that last one that he cocks an eyebrow and gives John a smirk.]

You don't ask for much, do you? Talk about high-maintenance.

[chromosomes]

[ And this is why they get along. John snorts, shakes his head. ]

Well, I wouldn't say no to a steak.

[starspangled]

Okay, but exactly how rare? Do I even need to cook it?

[chromosomes]

Honestly? No, you don't have to.

Seasoning doesn't hurt, though.