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Sturm's a comically private person, so when Lux asked to meet up and get some help with building their D&D character for the game, she was all-too-quick to suggest the Winter hollow - and a cottage there - as a proper meeting spot. As a result, she's set up shop in an unclaimed space with a stack of relevant books, her painting supplies, and a pair of printed character sheets.
Lux is fast enough, so she isn't expecting to wait long, but she's been stressed enough lately that it's important to keep an appropriate distraction on hand for when she needs to keep her thoughts at bay. As a result, she's working on painting the very tiny tattoos onto a viking warrior wearing light armor for mobility, and wielding a shield and spear.
Lux, indeed, doesn't take long to get there. Soon they're bouncing up to where Strum is waiting, but when they see that Strum is painting they make sure not to make any loud sounds or big movements, not wanting to ruin the tiny delicate brush strokes. Instead they walk closer calmly, leaning over to peer curiously at the fig. "Oh, wow."
Sturm is pretty quiet - and she doesn't take her eyes off the figure - even as Lux speaks. There's a very deliberate and restrained quality to her movements as she paints the lines with just the tiniest piece of an already very fine brush. For someone who hasn't seen the Jotun do this before, it must be rather strange to see the normally blunt and - kinda clumsy - woman do something with such a delicate touch.
"Hey. How've you been?"
"Pretty good." They sway a little, fighting the urge to lean in even closer to watch the brush move. Instead they stuff their hands into their hoodie pockets, looking to her face, then to her hands. "You really do paint beautifully, Strum. I could never do something like this..."
"Thank you," she mutters softly. "It isn't really that hard, though. There's a myth that someone needs to be talented to paint like this - natural ability might help the point where you start, but you're only ever going to be as good as the amount of work you put into it." Beat. "Wasn't very good when I started out, but I spent most of my free time practicing - and when I did I tried my best to paint bravely. All of that was a roundabout way of saying... you absolutely can paint like this if you want to, and I'll even share my supplies with you if it's something you're interested in exploring."
Their head tilts curiously. "Paint bravely...?" They step closer, settling down at the table but making sure not to bump or move it while she's painting. "I'd love to give it a shot. I'm just not sure I have the patience and focus to do something so tiny and detailed. But I can try!" They grin. "It looks like it's really relaxing. I'll need one for your game, right?"
"It's something one of my old friends used to say. Basically it just means trying out new things, and not worrying about whether or not something is perfect. You can only get better by stepping outside your comfort zone - and every time you attempt a thing you'll probably do it a little bit better than the last so why worry about it all that much?" She sets down the little figurine on the table. Damn Sigrun looks pretty kickass as a tiny piece of resin. "Yeah, you will. Was gonna make one for you as a gift, but if you wanted to paint it yourself I would be happy to help and give advice..."
They lean in to look over the figure when it's set down. "Oooh, that's Sigrun, right? Holy crap, it looks just like her!" Their eyes snap up at the mention of gifts, brightening excitedly. "Oh, hell naw! I totally want one painted by you! If you're sure you don't mind, I mean? I can always get a different one to experiment with sometime, and you can help me with that. But I sure as hell ain't turning down a mini-me."
"Yeah, this one's Sigrun. Bridge building is hard - and I didn't really think this would make a good gift, but..." She trails off, gesturing to the figurine. "Teagan and Glitch and Laura and... fuckin' everyone seems to think this is something special." Beat. "Hard to believe that it's even a little comparable to a suit of armor, but..." Her frown wobbles for a second - and it almost seems like she may have smiled at Lux's excitement. "Got tons of spare parts, so I'll paint yours and then give you some stuff to practice on."
"You... don't think this is special?" Lux asks, head tilting questioningly.
"Yeah, but it's not useful, which is... Well, it's just different." She shrugs, brow furrowing.
Their shoulders lift. "Most of the shit I make isn't useful. Art rarely has practical use, but that doesn't mean it's not... important or special. Art makes people happy. Art connects us. This thing is incredible." They wave both hands at the fig energetically. "Look at it. It looks so life-like! You must have spent so much time watching Sigrun, memorizing what her tattoos and clothes look like, so you could replicate it like this. And then all the--what--hours? needed to actually paint it. It shows you... see her. And not only see her, you're comfortable staring for hours at an image of her, and appreciate and respect her enough to... to want it to be perfect. I don't know everything about what has happened between you two, but based on the... gist of it, that I know of... that's a pretty big fucking step."
The door to the Regent's cottage opens, and a tiny figure in a heavy robe steps out. There's a small chair, sized to Marjorie, just outside the door, where she can sit and be unobtrusive and watch the goings-on in the Hollow itself; the erstwhile queen sits herself therein, reaches into her pocket for the current deck of Tarot cards, and starts shuffling absently.
Sturm doesn't really have much of a response to that beyond a furrowed brow and the return of her stony frown. She's quiet for a moment, and then returns her attention to the little figure - which she picks up between a thumb and forefinger. "It isn't really like that, though. It's still very hard to... look at her - or even be around her - and yeah." She sighs, clearing her throat. "We have a... sordid history, and-"
Whatever Sturm was going to say after that disappears immediately when Marjorie arrives - and her jaw goes completely rigid, leaving her sitting there awkwardly with the little shieldmaiden in her hand.
Lux eyes Strum a moment. "Okay... then... doesn't that make it more meaningful? That you were willing to push past that discomfort, to do something nice for her..?"
They blink and look over towards Marjorie, flashing a smile in greeting and a wave. "Hey!"
"I'm sorry if I interrupted," Marjorie's voice comes from under her hood; there's a pause in the shuffling of the cards in her hands. "I heard you speaking, and as I understood it -- you wanted to talk to me, Sturm. Is now a bad time? Would you prefer a private appointment?"
"Hrrrm. I... did, yes - and I..." The Jotunn clears her throat, and shuffles her supplies off to the side. "Now absoultely works for me, Reagent. Can teach Lux how to play D&D later - your time is much more valuable than mine, and I do not want to waste it." Her voice is a little bit growl-y, but she seems absolutely sincere about this.
They look to Strum. "I can fuck off, if you want to talk privately? Yeah, we can chat wheneves."
"No, it's nothing that requires privacy." She quickly adds.
A little wave of one china-doll hand from Marjorie. "I get as many minutes in the day as anyone else, Sturm, but thank you. I hope you have been well since we last spoke." Perhaps indicatively, she cuts the deck she's holding and shuffles it once more before tucking it away in her pocket and rising. She starts to pick up her chair and carry it over to where Sturm is working. (She's tiny, and not very strong. It's going to take her a minute.)
"If you'd like, I'll happily carry that for you," Sturm begins to stand. She's ripped, and happy to put other people's time and needs before her own, after all. "... and I suppose I've been just fine lately. As fine as can be expected, at least."
She doesn't sound quite so sincere about that last part, but enh. Fake it 'til you make it, right?
Lux gives a salute to Strum, leaning back in their chair. They leave being polite and offering to help to the beefy one.
Perhaps she started to move her chair in order to give Sturm the opportunity to offer. Sneaky. Marjorie takes a step back from said chair and gestures to it with one hand, then folds her hands together in front of herself. "Thank you, Sturm." Her hooded head turns slightly toward Lux. "And you, Lux? How go your current endeavors?"
Heedless to that possibility, Sturm lifts Marjorie's heavy wooden chair - hooking her arm under whatever makes the best grip - and carries it over to the table where she and Lux had been sitting. It's not much of a task for someone as strong as an Olympic deadlifter. Y'know which is why noodly people get Sturm to do shit like this. She is silent as she waits for Lux's response to the question.
They smile at Strum being all chivalrous, then nod to the Queen. "I'm doing real well, thank you. Ah--they're going good, putting out some feelers and all. Hopefully will have some interesting stuff to talk to you about soon." Their arm stretch upwards before their hands hook together behind their head.
Once the chair is situated near enough to Sturm's workspace that Marjorie can chat without yelling across the Hollow -- a very un-Winter thing to do -- Marjorie sits back down in it and curls her feet up under her backside, carefully arranging her robe around herself. "Good. I'm glad to hear it. I am -- concerned -- by the discussions we've had, for any number of reasons."
And then her hooded head turns back to Sturm. "Now, then," she prompts.
It's not exactly an unusual gesture for her, but Sturm... frowns. She frowns so often that one might be running low on creative ways to say it - and when she responds to Marjorie's prompting, her voice is a low pitched, measured grunt. "Dunno. Just... I've kept my distance for almost the entire time I've been back in Philly, but now... I think I'd like to do something more helpful. So," she stretches out that last word before pausing. "I was hoping for some advice about how I can best serve Winter."
Lux smile's dims--not fading, but turning more serious and contemplative. They reply to the Queen with a soft agreeing sound, before falling quiet to let Strum talk. Their bright eyes watch the ice giant curiously.
She sits very still, listening, and folds her hands in her lap. "What is it that you think you're best at, Sturm? Skill-wise? I can see you are a talented artist. What else?" There's not a hint of teasing or sarcasm in that bit about being an artist, either.
"That's a question with a complicated answer. The short version is, well. Hitting and being hit - but I know that's not usually the court's focus, so. Before I got taken, I was with K&A so I know a good bit about how to get drugs and guns and shit. How to get into places that... I shouldn't get. How to find someone who doesn't want to be found. How to, uhh. Make sure said someone stays real quiet." Beat. "... and I can fix most of your common household appliances. I guess?"
She looks incredibly awkward when she has to talk about herself - and the way she tacks the last one on almost makes it sound like a joke... but Sturm would never make a joke, right? Her shoulders are pretty scrunched - like she's suddenly worried about taking up too much space - and she's got her hands in her jacket pockets to better fiddle with that little worry stone without letting too much on.
"There is always a need for people who can take a hit and dole one out, no matter the Court. If you jump out of the shadows and hit someone, you're still hitting them," Marjorie offers drily, sitting very still indeed. She tips her head slightly to the side and laughs softly at the things that Sturm lists off that she can do. "All of these are very good skills to have. Especially the appliances one. My dishwasher always breaks."
"With the skills you list... perhaps you might train your eye on learning to become a Sun Banisher. Are you familiar with their duties?"
"Sun Banisher would be pretty awesome, gotta say," Lux chips in, leaning back enough that the front legs of their chair lift off the ground a bit.
"Would be happy to fix your dishwasher whenever you need me to," Sturm says with a small little snort-laugh. "Just shoot me a text. The wiring in my house is fuckin' ancient, so I even know my way around the electrical shit if that's what's wrong with it. Well. Enough to get by." Her brow furrows at the title - and Lux's comment.
"Uhh. Sorry, but I don't." She rubs the back of her head - scratching the buzzed bit underneath her lengthy warrior braid. "What does a Sun Banisher do, exactly?"
A little tip of her head toward Lux, in acknowledgement and agreement. Sun Banishers are, indeed, awesome. "Sun Banishers report to the Knights of the Utmost Silence -- firstly the Left-Hand Knight, but if Lumi is unavailable, or there's a crisis, Izzy can call on them as well. Their job is -- cleaning up problems. If a mortal gets too close to us, if our secrets get out... the Sun Banishers make the problems disappear." A slight intake of breath between her teeth. "Sometimes, what has to disappear is people, but I prefer that Oaths, Sealings, and the like be used instead whenever possible."
"To be a Sun Banisher, one must be able to see when people are lying, to investigate with skill, and possess the Hostile Takeover contract, and -- have a strong connection to Winter. Be a representative of all our Court represents."
Lux watches Strum's reaction to the explanation, head tilted.
"Can do a couple of those things already. Contract's much easier than trying to hide bolt cutters and a crow bar," Sturm shrugs. "So Hostile Takeover was one of the first I learned. Can do a pretty good job cleaning up a scene and tying off loose ends, too." She looks down at the table for a moment, chewing on her bottom lip. "Couple of the other things might take a bit of practice though, and-" Her hands leave their hiding place, and she runs her thumb along the worry stone openly. "Not sure how to tell if I'm "Representative of all our Court represents," but I think I'd probably excel at that position after... a bit of studying with someone that's better with Words than me."
A soft puff of laughter from under the Regent's hood, and she spreads her small hands out. "You will find no better instructor than Lumi Aaltonen, and secondarily Izzy. Both of them were Sun Banishers before they became Knights -- and rumor has it that when Lumi was a Sun Banisher in Vienna, she spent a year with the job before even her own motley knew she held the job." Marjorie rests her hands on her lap again. "One should not expect to take the job quickly, but it sounds like a proper goal for you."
The hooded head turns toward Lux. "Perhaps you might find some assistance from Sturm on your current project. Of course I would not direct you to do anything that would overstep what guidance the Knights have given you, but... "
Lux lets out a low whistle at the thought of Lumi keeping it a secret for so long, brows raising, impressed. They look to Marjorie and bob their head. "Definitely up for getting Strum to help. Right now it's just Asbolus and me. I'd appreciate the back up."
"Would probably have to get better at keeping secrets, then. Frowning all the time only does so much," Sturm's lament is a quiet one. "What's the easiest way to get into contact with Lumi about something like that?" Beat. "... and that's fine. Wouldn't trust a job like that if it just fell into my lap - and most things worth doing are worth waiting for, anyway."
Then she turns to Lux. "What's the gig? No offense, but I'm not blindly volunteering for shit - especially if I might get pinched over it."
" ... that would be advisable," Marjorie agrees, and for the first time, she sounds kind of wry. "Lumi has a number of burner phones, and I can pass you the number of the most recent one of which I am aware. Or you can leave a note for her here at her cottage." A gesture toward a very prim, proper, and very bare cottage over to the side of the Hollow.
Lux glances to the Queen. "Uh... how much of the more troubling details you think Strum should know?"
"How much do you think she should know?"
"Would appreciate the number." Sturm reaches into her pocket for an old, beat up burner that she has definitely had for way too fuckin' long now that she actually has friends who communicate with her through it. She opens up a blank contact page, and passes the phone to Marjorie. "Leaving a note out in the open that anybody could read is not my style."
She listens patiently as Marjorie and Lux go back and forth about the details of this mystery job.
"Errm..." Lux scratches at their cheek, lips pursing as the decision is put on them. Ugh, Mom, don't give me responsibility!!!
They huff out a breath then look across the table at Strum. "So, Marjorie was having these dreams... which we worked out to probably be about an iron dream-catcher. Which apparently can remove the ability for a mortal to dream. She also dreamed of these buildings--box like, oppressive, shitty. We've worked out that they're some sort of gentrification project. They might be connected to this dream-catcher thing? I've been poking around city hall to try to get some information on such projects. Waiting to hear back from some contacts I have. So not like... any major information right now, but some interesting things to look out for."
Another soft puff of laughter from underneath Marjorie's cowl, and she stays quiet while Lux and Sturm speak.
The phone handed to her gets tapped at, the burner number entered before she returns the phone.
"This is gonna probably make me sound like a dipshit, but I'm not sure... where I come in here. I'm not exactly a City Hall kinda bitch, and - unless you want me to hit up my old K&A guys for info - I don't exactly wield a lot of, uhh. Social capital?" Beat. "Where even is this gentrification project taking place?"
She accepts the phone and fires off a quick text.
Lux shrugs. "Right now there might not be much you can do--I'm just gathering information at this point. I can give you the locations of suspected places, if you wanna ask your guys if they've heard anything suspicious about them? I do plan on actually, like... going there too, to scope things out. Just was wanting to know a little more about what we were going into, first. You're welcome to come along then. Lord knows I ain't a fighter, if things go bad."
"So. There's a thing stopping mortals from dreaming." Sturm's brow furrows, and she turns to fix Marjorie with a quizzical frown. "Is anybody from outside the Freehold maybe... poking around Philly?"
Lux is squinting, looking upwards with a thoughtful expression. They kinda look like they're developing a headache--then shake their head and peer back to Strum and Marjorie. "Eh? Like... privateers or loyalists?"
"No, I mean like... Someone who might think that they are helping, but... doesn't know which rules they're supposed to follow."
" ... not that I'm aware of," Marjorie answers mildly. "But that's a good place to look."
"Uhhh..." More squinting. "Huh..."
"Okay, so... if you think it might be another Lost behind this... we definitely should, like, be more careful, especially if we go there to poke around. Enforce our Masks and shit, maybe?"
"Probably a good move. Might want to invite Wren along for the social investigation aspect of things - she works with Mearcstapa in meatspace, and does that sort of meddling for a living. Probably much better than me." Sturm shrugs. "... Autumn keeps track of Hedgegates in the city, right?"
The Regent stays quiet until she's asked a direct question -- as per the usual, she prefers to leave the operation of such things in the hands of her courtiers. "I believe that is one of the things that Buidhe studies, though there are a great number of doors in the city. What were you thinking?"
"Wren would be helpful. She could probably team up well with Asbolus. He's really skilled at noticing things." Their head bobs. "Huh. You think there might be some gates around these locations worth looking into?"
"This is just a thought, but... Like, all I'm saying is that - back in the day - if we were about to get burned the first thing we did was flush our supply. I'm thinking maybe someone might be... trying to do that." Sturm looks kinda distant as she talks, lost in thought. She turns back to Lux. "Just figure that if someone's trying to stop folx from dreaming with this thing, they might be doing it because they think they can keep Philly "safe" from their Good Neighbors in the Hedge... and that then they might start trying other illegitimate shit in pursuit of that goal. Y'know. Flushing Their Supply. The kind of shit that might end up biting us in the ass."
Lux stares. Staaares. They seem to be having a hard time connecting the dots, but they huff out a breath and lean back. "I guess that makes sense? So... what... you think they might be... forcing the people moving into these house projects to not dream, to... keep them safe?" They think for a moment. "That would have an impact on the Hedge, right? Like--uh. Dry it up?" They look between the two for confirmation. "So that... might be worth looking into, yeah."
"That's just my assumption - and I think that if they're doing it knowingly that it might be someone from outside the Freehold - or..." Sturm trails off, and resumes fiddling with her worry stone again - like she might wear a fuckin' groove in the thing. "Don't wanna think too long about what else it might be, but I think we might wanna poke around and look for other Lost. Might be some folx lurking around that we don't know about."
Lux looks troubled for a moment, hmming. They glance towards Marjorie, then look back to Strum, nodding. "Definitely. Do you want to take charge of poking around about the Hedge stuff? And once I hear back from my contacts, I can set Wren and Asbolus on looking around. If your assumption is true... I might try turning my focus on... trying to keep things from drying up too badly. Inspire some dreams and emotions in the area, until the culprit can be found."
"Might be worth a shot. Usually I'm pretty grounded Ironside, so I don't know half the shit about the Hedge I should. It might be worth seeking help from someone who spends more time there." Beat. "You said there was a gentrification project - think this shit might be happening pretty close my place? Buncha bougie motherfuckers out in the north-east..."
"I don't really know anyone who's good at Hedge stuff... that's in Winter, anyway." Their head tilts, thinking. "Who are our current Archers of the Lonely March?" They pull out their phone to poke at, pulling up notes. "Ummm... They're kind of all over the city, but a lot of them are in northeast, yeah. This one is Strawberry Mansion, another in Kensington... Are those close to your place?"
"Yep. That's out my way. The K in K&A stands for Kensington." Sturm nods slowly, and a deep sigh escapes her. "Might try to shake some branches with my old crew after all. Rich folx moving in is bad news for the Meth trade, because they think the users are trashy and it scares the shit out of 'em. So. My old guys might be keeping tabs on some of the places already - y'know, to know when they oughta bounce if the pigs start givin' more of a shit."
"While I would -- generally -- prefer -- to keep this within our Court as much as possible, if you find that you require the assistance of those in other Courts, please, reach out to them. My preferences mean nothing when it comes to the commission of a capital crime within Philadelphia," Marjorie interjects.
Lux bobs their head, flashing a grin. "Sounds like a good idea, then. Ugh, Strum! You're so smart and hot!" They mock-swoon, slumping back into their chair. They nod to Marjorie, more seriously. "It might be a good idea to get others outside of Winter to help with the Hedge, if there is something going on on that side. I have nooo idea about Hedge shit, myself. And... some Springs might be good to help counter act the Drying Out effects. But." Their hands spread. "This is all assumptions, right now. I think we should poke around a bit more before we pull in too many more people, personally."
"Well. We decide we need someone who knows more Hedge shit... well, let's just say I know guy. Err. Girl. Shit. Always wanted to say that but now I've gone and dropped the ball." Sturm doesn't really blush at the compliments, because she doesn't do that at all. Ever. Instead she fixes Lux with the most withering of gazes, and hopes that no one notices the tinge of dark blue that's creeping to her ears.
Soft laughter from Marjorie at the interplay between Sturm and Lux. "I believe I am leaving this in capable hands," the Regent states, and she rises from her seat. "Sturm, would you kindly put my chair back when it is convenient to you? I think I am going to go to bed."
"Who?" Lux asks curiously, then flashes a smile to Marjorie. "Goodnight! Thanks for chatting with us."
"Of course, Marjorie." Sturm sobers quickly enough, and returns to her usual placid self. "Jackie. Big scary Autumn that... wiggles a lot. I don't really know how to describe it, but you'd probably know her by the wyrd if she showed up."
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