wooliefrand | Clover Calling

[ Since she said to back anything she said...Shade nods amiably. ]

[ despite the inner turmoil of not knowing what's going on, which he hates. hates it precious!! he can keep a completely blank face when needed. ]

[ tips his head to the side, grinning. ]

[ fingers twitch. he wants to make a peace sign so badly but instead he just joins in with the smiling. smile gang. ]

[ why are you all like this. ]

[ His smirk sharpens at Spinel’s words, but he merely nods. ]

…so perhaps you’d be willing to tell us a little more about your side of the story.

[Even though he's staring at a screen. . .somehow. somehow. . .

It looks like he's staring directly at Spinel. He freezes up, not moving at all, eyes widening.]

What. . .are you. . .

[and then Zenith speaks up, snapping him out of it. He pinches the bridge of his nose, shaking his head. The wolves outside slow their approach.]

Apologies. You sheep certainly do have a knack for saying senseless things. Exactly what about "my side" could you possibly want to know?

[ Bingo, it would seem; hopefully that's the reaction Red wants, though it seems to have worked in their favor too, given how the wolves relent outside. ]

As much as we can. Why wouldn't we? You have to know by now we're foreigners in a world we hardly understand, and if we're going to make any progress here? We need to know you.

That's not all we're here for, but we can take it one thing at a time.

Yeah! Exactly!

So it's honestly better to just work with us here. At least we want to know your side, right?

[ do I look like I'm a hostage by now? but genuinely nodding at wanting to know about Ceo. ]

We were serious when we said we weren't here ta throw down.

Uh huh. Noooo throwin' down here!

Like I said, we’re here to offer some kind of truce.

…but we know very little about you and what you’re even after. Perhaps you could enlighten us.

[They can practically hear Ceo's sigh through the screen]

You all know the story. Those sheep started this whole mess, and spiraled this whole world into chaos. Now I've lost my sibling, my father, and hi-- [a pause. he growls, banging a fist into the desk. the air around them gets bitter cold.]

There's nothing else to say. All I want to do is protect what's left of this world. A truce? You can't be trusted. And you'd never trust me fully either.

So just tell me what you REALLY bloody want and give me that body back!

[ A response isn't immediate. Spinel gives the crew another sweeping look, considering, then exhales slowly, raising her hands as she relents. ]

Yeah, I suppose that's fair. Maybe we're past the point where that could happen.

Alright, here's what I want—the Priestess' second book. In exchange for her body, I'm taking that with me. Where is it?

[Mmm... she gives a sidelong glance over to Spinel, but then nods. She's here to just back up Spinel, after all.]

Eh, who cares about trust when the fate of your world is at stake anyway? Both of you screwed up. You started this round of messes by kidnapping and negotiation, Clover decided taking a body and a truck was reasonable retaliation.

If everyone stayed mad over a little torture and misdemeanor crimes, we'd never get anything done. Look at me! I had to endure some community theater yakuza roleplay while they mauled my foot just [insert nebulous time] ago, and I'm still here trying to make sure negotiations happen. A truce keeps everybody's eyes on the prize.

[ moving in front of Shade and Warden, rolling his eye. ]

We're gettin' off track. Who gives a shit, let's get back ta brass tacks.

[ shrugs! then tips his head to the side. ]

Seriously, though. We'd also like ta know 'bout where ta find some wolf sanctuaries. [ a beat. he glances back at Spinel briefly, then returns his focus to the feed. ] But the book is our priority.

[ he is listening, but when Ceo starts talking about protecting what's left of this world...

he looks away. doesn't seem to notice—or care about—the cold. ]

[ He eyes Warden with a scoff. ]

A truce doesn’t mean we have to trust each other, exactly. Just that we’ll stay out of each other’s hair. For now.

…the book is our preference, of course. If you want an easy exchange, we’ll give you your sister’s body for that. One physical object for another.

But if you want to tell us about the wolf sanctuaries, it’ll save us having to snoop around for it ourselves. We’ve got business with someone out there.

[Both requests take him off guard, and his ears twitch this way or that, very clearly thinking over the pros and cons. The bad thing about being a wolf person is that no matter what, some feelings are highly telegraphed. His eyes look like they focus on Warden for all of a second before averting his gaze. Can't do much with a jackalope as a puppet. . .

An irritable finger taps at his desk.]

. . .sheep should have no business in one of our sanctuaries. You only bring death and grief. And if I catch you in any of them, I will kill you.

. . .

But you're saying you're going to be putting your muzzles in our business regardless. Is that it?

We're only looking for someone, Ceo—we don't care to harm you or anyone else.

[ Spinel lifts her hand, gesturing with her hand in a give me motion. ]

But don't get sidetracked too hard. The book—where is it?

Mhm, we just want to find someone. But!

Book, please~

[ is quietly radiating "see what I'm putting myself through to be a responsible party in getting information?" he knows better than to interrupt teenage girls asking for things... ]

Pretty much, yeah. An' I mean, if it ain't us? It's gonna be one've the others. An' lemme tell ya, they're even more fuckin' annoyin' than we are. Hoo boy, don't even get me started!

[ shrugs! ]

Better fer ya if ya give us some morsels. I mean, that way, yer still in control, yanno? We're followin' yer lead. An' hey, we know — no death an' grief, gotcha. We'll keep a low profile, be in an' out, easy peasy. You win 'cause it means we'll fuck off from yer sanctuaries, an' we'll win 'cause we get what we're lookin' for.

[ and then, tips his head to the side. ]

Like we been sayin' though, the book's our priority. That's what we want most, an' we'll trade ya the body fer it. If ya want us outta yer hair though . . . a lil' extra'll go a long way fer the both of us.

[ he's looking back at Ceo now, watching his every move like a student analyzing a sacred artifact in a museum. still no talking from his end. ]

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