Clover Calling

[wooliefrand]

WHO: Clover
WHERE: ????
WHEN: ?????

[ready to make some elicit DEALS?

Do so here!!]

Comments

[failsaver]

Uh huh. Noooo throwin' down here!

[eonsadrift]

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.

[wooliefrand]

[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!

[psynchroneyes]

[ 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?

[aididitmyway]

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

[jerkalope]

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.

[doggonemad]

[ 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.

[failsaver]

[ 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. ]

[eonsadrift]

[ 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.

[wooliefrand]

[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?

[psynchroneyes]

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?

[aididitmyway]

Mhm, we just want to find someone. But!

Book, please~

[jerkalope]

[ 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... ]

[doggonemad]

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.

[failsaver]

[ 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. ]

[eonsadrift]

…and truce or no, if we ever encounter each other again, I’ll gladly give you a rematch.

[wooliefrand]

[A long, long bout of silence, Ceo unmoving.

And then he turns his back, hands clasped behind him, and long fluffy tail flicking with irritation.

He really wants that body back.]

Fine.

I will give you the location of one of our sanctuaries. But I offer you no protection. Every wolf is right to be wary of you, and for all I know, this is yet another plan of sabotage.

You step into our territory, you forfeit your own lives.


. . .

As for the book. I don't know how you know what that is, or why you'd even need it.

But.

If it's for the body, a simple matter exchange will suffice. It's not like you could read it anyway.

[psynchroneyes]

[ Oh, fuck yeah! She won't celebrate too hard just yet—but!! ]

It's a deal. We accept.

[aididitmyway]

Pleasure doing business with you!

[heart sign]

[jerkalope]

Hmm, does this mean I could read it?

[ listen he was doing so much not talking, he's gotta at least ask that ]

[doggonemad]

Like they said, sounds good! Though, hey. Do us a solid an', yanno, maybe call off the horde 'fore we do the swap?

[ nods over his shoulder. pls tell ur doggos to scoot their boots. ]

[failsaver]

[ a little absently, as if nothing exists aside from Ceo ]

Mm. Wouldn't want the matter to get damaged, right?

[eonsadrift]

Naturally. It would make it boring if you also gave us protection.

[ He glances towards the outside and nods. ]

Call off your boys, and Clover accepts.

[wooliefrand]

I'm not calling off anything until the body is in my hands.

[another snap of his fingers. Outside, most of the wolves simply. . .sit. Two however, approach, and then ultimately enter the mansion. But they are slow, non-aggressive. They're also leaking that inky black, shadowy ooze, per usual.

One begins to draw a rune on the floorboards using its gunk, and the other bares its chest--which twists and distorts. Something forming. A map of some sorts.

Ceo speaks, idly walking to a glass case in the background of the video feed, hesitant, then taking a book. When he returns, he's drawing his own rune on a piece of paper.]

Since you're dangerously close to it anyway, there's an underground village of sorts about ten miles north of you. It wasn't always that way of course. We moved them underground in an attempt to see if that would avoid the Wolf King's wrath.

It didn't.

[a huff. He adjusts his glasses.]

Once that rune is complete, place the body upon it. Then I'll do the same with this book.


Then? I never want to see *any* of you. Ever again.

[psynchroneyes]

[ Oh. Ewww... Well, at least it's something useful. A map? Hm.

'Record it.' ]

You got it, boss. This'll be the last time we ever show ourselves again.

[ She turns toward Hannya. ]

Alright, you heard the man! Hand her over.