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

[gordianknots]

Then now is the time for me to be honest with you. I'm a professor of magecraft back home, not chemistry. Analysis of it in particular.

[chromosomes]

Well. In that case...

How do you feel about cartography?

[gordianknots]

I've never dabbled, but no time like the present.

[chromosomes]

We'll need it to be as detailed as possible. Information on security and defenses, the whole nine yards. I mean, I'm not expecting you to sit there and work out guard rotations, but this has to be pulled off.

[gordianknots]

[Waver pauses, tapping his chin for the best way to do this. It'd need to be remote, after all. His presence in Caer Scima would be too well, suspicious.]

I have an idea of how to do it remotely, but I'll need a small window to experiment with the theory. Say, about a week. Acceptable margin?

[chromosomes]

A week is a hell of a lot better then I dared hope for. If you need help getting into hard-to-reach places, I can offer a hand. No shadows I can't get through, not as His son.

[ John grins and the relief is palpable, one hand coming out to claps Waver's shoulder. ]

[gordianknots]

That's just for perfecting the method. The mapping, if it works, might take another week, but closer to two.

[Waver pats that hand on his shoulder gingerly, but his expression remains grim.]

I am fully prepared for the consequences of this, but I need you to ensure the safety of my kids after all of this is done. This is treason, and Reul has a habit of visiting sins of the parents on their offspring.

[chromosomes]

Can you promise within the month?

[ There's a nod. ]

That I can do. I'm already working out a few options for the safety of others, anyone who makes it through this and may be hunted down. I'll keep an eye on your kids personally.

[gordianknots]

If I hit week three and there are problems, I'll let you know immediately.

Good. The dryads have their trees out in La Llarona, so if they've gotta be replanted, just move fast.

[chromosomes]

Sounds good.

[ John nods. ] Mind showing me where? Either on a map or physically; I can get us there and back pretty much instantly.

[gordianknots]

C'mon, I've got enough maps inside to save the trip.

[Waver shrugs, and waves John towards the Barrel's front door.]

Anything else I need to know about operations, or is ignorance a boon at this point in time?

[chromosomes]

For this? I think ignorance might be a boon either way.

[ John heads for the door as directed, half-shrugging. ]

The less you know, the less they can charge you with. Right?

[gordianknots]

Well, they've got enough to want to curse me for and deny me death. I should talk to Grell about circumventing that.

[And won't that be a great conversation. Waver heads down the stairs at the back of the Barrel's main room, into the house and down a corridor into his study. In addition to the papers scattered everywhere, there's a few maps littered about. Waver snaps one up of La Llarona, and offers it to John.

Between Ariadne's home and Caer Scima. a small circle of six x-es are present.]

That's where they are, if need ever be.

[chromosomes]

If you die doing the Shuck's work, I think He'll let you die instead of wandering this world as a headless lunatic.

[ So that's... helpful.

John looks at the map, tracing the circle with his finger. ]

I'll remember. Anything specific I should know about them?

[gordianknots]

Honestly, I'm more worried about getting to the right afterlife. This whole world dying business has always had me a hair worried about that.

[Look when you join Alexander the Great's magical friendship powered army in death, you kinda wanna make sure that all follows through.]

They'll be shy, but as long as you explain what's going on, they'll trust you.

[chromosomes]

Well, you still might come back.

[ Same way John did. ]

What are their names?

i still don't have all six names don't judge me.....

[gordianknots]

Oh, Christ I hope not. Anyone who pulls me out of Alexander the Great's army afterlife is getting the worst earful of their lives.

[To say the least.

Quickly, Waver rattles off their names, being sure to point to whose-tree-is-whose in the process.]

lmskghsdg /pets

[chromosomes]

You know, somehow I'd advise against giving the Black Shuck an earful.

[ He's js. ]

Okay, got it. I'll post a few discrete watchers in the area too, make sure they are eyes there.

[ He's going to ask wolves to do it. ]

[gordianknots]

Noted but I can't say I'll spare your ears.

[Anger a son of death doggy instead. Definitely better.]

Thank you. It is appreciated, more than you might ever know.

[chromosomes]

I'll deal with it. Ask a stray to start bringing you weird shit if it comes down to it.

[ John's definitely less ill-tempered. ]

Let's hope we don't have to find out, yeah?

[gordianknots]

--I'm allowed to do that?

[Hey, that's something worth clarifying.]

And indeed not. Do you need anything else of me, while you're here?

[chromosomes]

Oh no, but I can. [ Beat. ] Can you talk to them? Strays, that is.

[gordianknots]

I can't. Mice and rats, yes, but not strays. Unless there's a trick to it?

[chromosomes]

It was my last boon, though I'm sure there is a trick to it. We could always try to teach each other.

[gordianknots]

I'd be up for it, if you are. You don't mind small rodents, I hope.