fandomtownies | The Boardwalk, Sunday Afternoon

Entry tags:

The Boardwalk, Sunday Afternoon

Leda had ~~handwavily~~ left messages for Jon, James, Momoko and Karla, asking them to meet them here. She knew she should explain to them what was going on, and really she would like to vent a bit. It was just that the dance didn't seem like the place to do it. This seemed like a good time and place for it.

Especially with the huge bucket of boardwalk fries she'd bought.

[Open for anyone, but mostly those mentioned in the narrative.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Jon took a seat near Leda and instantly reached for the fries, not even asking.

"You summoned?"

"Hey Jon, glad you could make it. I wanted to give you a more detailed account of what's going on, maybe have a kind of a strategy session."

"Really. Is this one of those sessions where I get told who I can beat up?" he asked as he stole another fry.

They were good fries.

Leda sighed. "If only humans could enter Faerie, it would indeed be that kind of session."

"Well, technically I'm an alien-created clone..." Hey, if there was a loop hole, he was going to try and find it.

"That...might work? I'm not sure how genetic engineering effects magical boundaries." Come to think of it, why couldn't humans cross the border? She knew it wasn't just magic, cause there were humans in Bordertown who could do magic. Had any of them ever tried to cross?

~~Mun is currently working on something for the future as regards to loop holes~~

It was a day for fry-stealing, it appeared, because Karla was going to do the same thing Jon did, but from the other side.

"Oooh, fries!"

To anyone fluent in Karla, that was both a 'Hey! Tasty!' and a request for information.

"Okay, so, a few months ago, Lord Corwyn was running this scheme to scare the folks in Faery into sealing the border. It involved drugs, and as it turns out, a mutated flu virus that was able to infect Elves. Which we have no immunity to apparently. That scheme failed, due in part to Momoko's help.

"She also helped catch the bad guy in Bordertown, who agreed to testify against Corwyn. He didn't take me calling him out in the Council of Nobles very well."

"How do the others look?" James asked, leaning against a post, almost within fryreach. The ear was a bit striking...and new.

"All dead." Leda said with some satisfaction. "I was too quick for the one that did this, but my friends were too quick for me to get at him."

"It's a proud look," he stated. He had his own scars to show off, though none as visible.

"Good to have you back in town."

"Thank you, I'm sure I'll get used to it. It doesn't seem to have affected my hearing at least. And it's good to be back. You have no idea how good." If only she could stay.

"Hearing is very important." How else would one hear the swish of the sword and know when to dodge? "Weekend trip or here for a bit?"

"Weekend trip. Wish it was longer though. I have a feeling I'm not gonna get many vacations till this war's over." And she was trying not to think about the possibility that it would not be over for a very, very long time.

He smiled, wryly. "Ours was most of a decade," he said.

Leda groaned and buried her face in her hands. "Fan-fucking-tastic."

James, Harbinger of Joy. "Tell me you're not being invaded by another world?"

"Heh. No, no my world's doing just fine tearing itself apart all on it's own. Remember that guy I told you about? The one who doesn't believe in the concept of military targets? He's the one who sent the assassins after me.

"On the other hand," she added thoughtfully, "The assassins took pains to make sure no civilians were hurt. Not something I'd expect of Goblins. And before the assassins I found out that one of the nobles who's supporting me believes in Prima Nocte."

"I believe so," he said, tapping his chin while thinking. "Assassins are a nasty business." He'd dealt with a few back home.

"Goblins are a funny folk. Not too bright from my home, although their mountain cousins are smarter and more cunning. What's the Prima Nocte?" It sounded Rodezian...

"It's...it was a tradition a few centuries ago on Earth that went with the belief that serfs were the literal property of the lord who's land they inhabited." Leda explained bitterly. "Prima Nocte is latin I think, for first night. The Lords thought they had the right to rape, they didn't call it rape of course, any common woman on the first night of her marriage."

The noble in question wasn't so specific about the dates and times of his transgression. He'd more felt that he was allowed to do it any time he pleased.

"That's a quick way to cause a revolution or a removal of said noble," he said flatly.

Abruptly, Leda stood from the bench and kicked it vicsiously. She'd been thinking about ways to remove said noble ever since she'd heard about what had happened. But her trusted advisor Leander had cautioned her that now was not the time to alienate her allies. They couldn't afford to send anyone over to Corwyn's side.

"Fuck!" she nearly screamed, kicking the bench again. "I fucking hate this job!! The whole Monarchial/Noble system is fucking bullshit!!!"

James narrowed his eyes and took a half-step back at the outburst. "Then change it. If the Kingdom does not function, change the Kingdom."

Oh, James would hear from Prince Arutha about this.

Leda took a deep breath and composed herself. Elves generally were not given to such outbursts, a testament to the stress Leda had been feeling.

"Sorry 'bout that, Pat. Changing the kingdom was always the plan. Right from the moment I found out who and what I was. But I think I've gotta deal with Corwyn first. He seems to be the worst and most pressing enemy of the people right now and he wants the throne. I've got the Dragons and the Merfolk on my side, and it's looking good with the Dwarves too. But the Nobles control so much of the resources and Leander says I can't afford to risk driving any of them to Corwyn's side. Ousting one for abuse of power might..."

Wait a tic, in all the hubbub of going to war and such, it'd somehow never occurred to her to find out just what the nobles stances were. That'd definitely be a place to start in terms of effecting some change. For all she knew, the other nobles would be with her on the whole 'commoners aren't property' reform.

"This nation," he started, indicating Fandom, "is not ruled by a king or queen, but a Constitution. Could you not set up a Congress of Lords? Or send this Corwyn a gift of an asp on a box and handle this issue?"

Politics. Sometimes it's better to be a thief.

"The congress thing I think could work, we've got sort of a parliament already." she said, calm again. Ideas were fermenting now. Though even that seemed like more government than was neccesary. Remember, she was an anarchist.

"As for the asp thing, don't think we're not considering a few options."

"A lot of problems caused by, and ended by, a bit of poison or a sharp arrow."

"Work on the Parliment, see if you can woo their favor from this Corwyn."

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

The Boardwalk, Sunday Afternoon

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject