Alice’s Order Meeting #1
Date: 2025-07-30 20:02
(Alice’s Order Meeting #1)
[Wed Jul 30 2025]
A Cozy Underground Staff Lounge/span>/spanThe staff lounge occupies a rectangular chamber with walls of the same fitted
stone blocks found throughout the underground complex. Several worn leather
couches and armchairs cluster around low wooden tables, their surfaces marked
by water rings and scratches from years of use. A kitchenette lines the
eastern wall, equipped with a coffee maker that perpetually brews, a small
refrigerator, and open shelving stocked with mismatched mugs and plates.
Potted ferns and philodendrons thrive in corners despite the absence of
windows, their leaves catching the warm light from overhead fixtures designed
to mimic natural sunlight. A large cork board dominates one wall, pinned with
duty rosters, announcements, and photographs of Order members at various
gatherings. The concrete floor features the same inlaid river stone patterns
as the corridor outside, though here they form a large spiral design centered
beneath a round oak table scarred by decades of meetings and meals. Books on
herbalism, local history, and protective wards fill a modest bookshelf near
the door, their spines showing signs of frequent handling. The air carries
the mixed scents of coffee, earth from the planters, and the faint herbal
aroma that permeates the entire underground facility./span>/spanIt is about 65F(18C) degrees. The mist is heaviest At Carnation and Franklin/span>/spanAlice says “I’ll wait a few, Shay, and Aishia I’ll echo important stuff to here.“
Alice says “Plus there will be a summary announcement.“
Alice winces.
Sofia turns over to Annabelle and smiles, tilting her head and asking, “Oh hey, who might you be? I’m Sofia Delvecchio.”
Shay struts right into the room with an easy gait, one hand clasped around Rinwell’s. Lifting his other, he flicks a wave towards everybody else in the room, looking for a place behind the couches to linger at. “Halo.” He doesn’t mind standing around, apparently.
“Hi, Apizza.” Annabelle greets with only a faint addled nod of her head. “I’m Annabelle. I’m getting better at not bleeding on the floor, but I’m a little shaky. Thanks for the pizza, I think I’ll end up with some, somehow.”
Alice stands up and positions herself somewhere that she can be seen, but isn’t in the way of the food. She has an old wooden gavel in her hand, and she gestures with it as she speaks. “Okay, hello, everyone. Thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule to come in person, I appreciate it. Um, for those who don’t know me, I’m Alice Renwick, HQ tasked me with acting as interim Warden after Patience stepped down.” A pause to gather her breath, and to look out over the crowd. Public speaking 101 in action. “As you can see on the agendas, this is going to be primarily a meeting to discuss new leadership and, more generally, things that are going on in the city that we, as the Order, need to keep up with.”
She goes on to indicate her gavel, saying, “This is the gavel. Later on, we’re going to do a segment called Pass the Gavel. When we do that, whoever has the gavel is the speaker, and can voice their concerns, victories, worries, or troubles as they please. You have to ask the person with the gavel for permission to speak.” Another pause. “So, let’s get into it. First on the agenda… leadership.”
Stelle glances around the room a moment from behind those shaded lenses, her head flicking a little left then right.
Ambrose lifts a hand placidly in greeting to Shay and to Rinwell, before his unblinking pale gaze falls on Alice.
Sophie crosses her legs and shifts her attention to Alice with a little tilt of her head.
Alice says “First on the agenda: leadership change. As you all know, the Warden, the Master Sword, and the Master Scroll have stepped away. They’re still with us, but no longer taking leadership roles. Interim Warden has fallen to me, but I thought it would be best if we all had the opportunity to properly vote.“
Alice speaks into an open channel, trying to enunciate so it’s not too loud in the microphone, but still audible in the room.
Given that Annabelle does not have the gavel, even if the period still precedes the segment, she concedes to give a diver’s okay with her forefinger and thumb.
Obadiah rests, quite relaxed, legs crossed at the knees as he watches the proceedings with passing interest. After a moment he raises his hand to be acknowledged from the floor.
Alice adds without the comms channel open, “Oh, when I ask for nominations, by the way, you guys don’t have to give them on open mic. I’ll echo. No worries.”
Alice says “Right now, we mostly need to select a new Warden, and then we’ll worry about the Master roles. Many people have already expressed disinterest in the role. I think we’d be in a bad spot if we had to force someone to lead. So… I’ll open the floor, anyone may speak – you may nominate a candidate for Warden, and each nomination will require a second. You may nominate yourself. Any nominations?“
Obadiah keeps his hand up.
Alice nods to Obadiah, pointing the gavel. “Obie.”
Meridith lifts a hand
“You don’t have to raise hands right now! Floor is open. Nominations free,” Alice explains, wiggling the gavel for emphasis, for all the good it’ll do.
“I nominate Alice Renwick for Warden,” Obadiah says then sits down.
“Seconded,” Sofia calls out without hesitation.
Meridith lowers her hand. “Yeah that’s what I was gonna say.”
“I also nominate Alice.” Esme echoes
Sophie asks Alice, “Do you want to be warden?”
Stelle grins, it wasn’t her who had to do this nomination. “I agree.”
Ambrose just draws a small smirk.
In slips Aishia, fashionably late but at least all in one piece. A nod here, a nod there, and then she slips over to stand near the couch seating.
“I support that completely, if she’s uh… offering herself as tribute,” Miles adds his concurrence while he keeps fidgeting restlessly in his armchair.
“Sorry, Alice, but it looks like you’re getting nominated, because everyone else – me included – seems to agree,” Shay tells Alice, as he plants his hands on the headrest of the couch in front of him – carefully, as to not intrude into someone else’s head.
Obadiah then proceeds to shout out, like the nerd he is accused of being, “Call the question on the election!”
Of course, Miles obligatorily thumps his fist to his chest, plants two fingers to his lips, then raises his index and forefinger with his hand.
Sophie furrows her brow, a mixture of confusion and annoyance at the situation. She crosses her arms and leans into the couch.
Alice blinks, already turning red at hearing her name too many times in a row. She locks her gaze on Sophie, though, and explains herself, speaking more softly now that her voice doesn’t need to echo into an open comm line, a little wave given to Aishia. “When Pax vaguely mentioned thinking of stepping down weeks ago, I thought I didn’t want it, no. A lot has happened since then, though, and if the sword of Damocles chooses my head over which to hang, then I’m honored to serve. I know that I’m new, not just to the Order but to the entire supernatural world, but if people have confidence in me, then I’ll do everything I can not to waste that confidence.” She lets out a breath. That was tough. “Does that answer your question?”
“Seventhed,” Ambrose supposes by way of answering Alice.
“That’s actually the best thing I’ve heard,” Sophie says with a nod, “I support that nomination.”
“Humility’s a good trait. New as you may be, you have my vote of confidence.” Aishia pines in quietly, giving a shallow nod of the head complemented by the quiet rattle of chimes and jewelry.
Alice grits her teeth, looking out at the gathered Order, silently counting heads in her mind. “… I think that’s everyone. No other nominations?”
From her perch on the couch, Sofia pipes up, asking the crowd, “Do we have any UNwilling nominations? Some back-ups of someone who might wanna do the job but you wanna hear their positions on things, so it’s more a race?”
Obadiah shouts louder, “Move nominations be closed and we elect Alice by acclimation!”
“Seconded!” Esme chimes.
“Wait, can you explain that again? Sorry. That sounded interesting,” Shay gestures a hand to indicate Sofia.
Alice holds her hands up, trying to put that to rest right away. “Hang on, hang on. There are people who aren’t here whose voices need to be heard. I was going to suggest that voting stay open until Monday, and that fact be made blatantly clear, so people have a chance to get it done no matter when they wake. Any alternate suggestions, or vehement opposition to that time?”
Shay appears to be leaning in closer to Rinwell and exchanging some murmurs with the squire.
Nodding back to Shay, Sofia continues to explain a little more: “Just for the sake of opening a dialogue, are there any candidates who have not expressed interest who you people would think have a different take than Alice, just for the sake of opening a dialogue and providing different options? Like so no one thinks it’s a sham race with only one candidate.”
“Hypothetically,” Miles puts forward tepidly. “I’d also be on board with having Stelle as Warden. I think she’s the only other person who might want the job and is in a position to do it, and has the added benefit of giving a clear successor to Master Scroll that we wouldn’t have otherwise,” he offers up. “But I’m happy either way. You’re both awesome.”
A look from the conversation between Sofia and Shay over to Miles, and Ambrose nods. “Seconded. If not Miss Renwick, then Miss Fournier.”
Obadiah nods to Miles, “They are both cooler than us.”
Agreeing with Miles with a quick couple of nods, Sofia pipes up, “I’d be cool with nominating Stelle too, I think they both have different areas of strength and put in excellent work.”
Stelle coughs suddenly, sunglasses near slipping off her face. “Me?!” Stelle asks, leaning forward in her chair a bit. She pats herself down, settling whatever emotion threatened her recline. She waves her hand before her and says, “I’m honored but euh… Alice is much better suited to wardenhood. Her contact list is probably six times as large as mine.”
Sophie grins at Stelle, “Size doesn’t matter. Or so I hear.”
appears once again, a little faint, but present, next to her fellow in Train-purgatory. “Hi, again. I’m dreaming of a meeting. It’s going really well.”
“I mean that could be a good thing if you delegate properly,” Miles relays to Stelle. “Sometimes you can have a leader who isn’t so much the public face and first point of contact as they are an organizer and delegator with other people doing all the chatting and connecting.”
“Trying to think of someone, but I can’t seem to… our numbers are pretty small, anyway,” Shay says in response to Sofia with a brief pursing of his lips. “I’d say King? I wouldn’t mind King, but he’s already decided to remain Master Shield, and I think that should stay that way.”
Sofia nods back to Shay and says, “I think he’d be a good choice if he had a wider availability, but both Alice and Stelle seem more active lately and able to dedicate more time to the role.”
Distracted with the discussion at hand, Miles is totally unprepared for the paper airplane as it smacks against the side of Miles’s head and bends its pointed tip before plummeting to the floor. “Oh no!” aghast, he reaches down to retrieve it and distract himself with conducting repairs.
“I actually really like the idea of Stelle being Warden, because that easily fits Alice into Master Scroll. I think choosing a Master Scroll right now would be the hardest for us,” Shay muses.
Anna squints suspiciously. “Hey. You’re not supposed to be in that dream.” But she can’t hold out angst for long. “I mean. Why keep secrets, anyway? Alice is a nice girl. As good a girl as I am.”
Alice glances back and forth as the discussion goes on, eyes dancing from person to person to pizza to person to plane to person, before she finally lands on Stelle. “Well… are you accepting the nomination, Stelle? That’d be the first step.”
There’s a moment where Stelle remains still but her head nods, a sigh escaping before she comments, “I will not reject it.”
“I think the advantage to Alice, as Stelle says, is that she’d play really well as the face of the Order, speaking for us and making connections, and she’s pretty smart and disciplined and all that,” Miles offers while he takes up a new job as paper plane mechanic. “But the advantage to Stelle is that we’d still be able to have Alice on as Master Librarian, doing the same sort of thing, while being able to bully Sofia or Shay into becoming the next Master Sword. But strictly in terms of Warden, I think they’re both good choices. I’m not sure who would be Master Scroll, with Alice as Warden, though.”
Sophie clears her throat, “We aren’t there yet, but I’d put my name forward for Master Scroll.” She than asks, “Have there ever been co-chair Wardens? Like two at once?”
Obadiah without looking up from his phone he suggests to Miles “Sophie could be Master Scroll.”
“Though, some lady was being really loud about how everyone in this city is just about sex and if you don’t want sex nobody cares about you.” Anna mentions to the far end of the train. She stands, because why would she be wounded in this place? And easily flops by Dream-Boyfriend. “I don’t really understand what she’s complaining about. It seems like she’s not complaining about anything that’s real.”
Sophie giggles at Obadiah’s comment and shakes her head, “Jinx.”
Obadiah gestures to Sophie as she just proves his point
Sofia glances to Miles and rolls her eyes a bit at the mention of her own name, but say to that point, “Stelle is more experienced and has a bit of a cooler head when it comes to decision making, Alice is a very social bug and does great at de-escalation of situations and making sure people feel heard. So, both qualities you want to see, both good candidates for leadership overall.”
Obadiah but also doesn’t say anything because he has been jinxed and there is no Coke to buy to lift the dreaded hex. He must, by the laws of the playground, remain silent until allowed to speak again by Sophie.
“I suppose Esme probably could, too,” Miles allows Obadiah.
“I don’t know if there’s ever been two Wardens at once, but the Warden isn’t a dictator to begin with. It’s more like a council, with the Masters and the Warden working together,” Alice explains, wiggling the gavel back and forth as she does.
Esme says “I’m not being Master Scroll“
Miles says “Peer pressure.“
Miles wiggles his fingers to hex Esme while one hand continues to try to straighten his paper airplane’s bent nose. Its next target is Esme.
“Looks like doesn’t know how to take a photo in Killgrove.” Anna answers dreamily, using the rest of this bench-like station to stretch her legs out, with her back upon him. “MaiTai or something on my dream social media. It’s a really stupid social media, which is more proof that this is The Awake.” She nudges him with her back. “Imagine, like. New York having a social media just to itself.”
“Yeah, I agree, I think it works best if Stelle is the Warden and Alice heads as the Master Scroll instead. I’ll change my vote to Stelle if so,” Shay voices, attention drifting towards Sophie then with an approving thumbs up. “Okay, that’s nice, there’s more people that are showing willingness to take up a leadership spot, at least.”
Esme wrinkles her nose at the idea of having to be in charge of anything. “Sophie’s do a great job.” She insists, not quite able to duck out of the way of the plane completely, feigning a brief dramatic faint before collecting the plane up again. “We could just. Invent a Co-Warden position, couldn’t we? HQ doesn’t care too much about that stuff. But I’m just here for the ride. Ain’t heard anything objectionable yet.”
Alice speaks up into the gap, glancing around before she says, “Um, as for how the voting will work, King is going to be tallying the votes, because he’s the only standing member of leadership. Right now, we’re probably only voting for Warden, so keep that in mind, and the new Warden will figure out how to handle selecting for new Masters.” Pause for effect. “So, after I announce to the whole chapter about the nominees and voting, you’ll be able to text your vote to King. I trust everyone will be honest and not try to do anything weird.”
“They stopped. It was just a comms-thing.” Anna answers, patting her hip where a satchel might be- probably getting hand psyche in her hair-psyche. “I don’t know. I guess, like, they’ll be strangely efficient. That’s what I’ll dream they are, mhm.” She smiles at her daydream, but a pinch of her nose twitches as she moves her leg. “Tss..Tss.. Ugh, cramp, probably. Anyway- The Warden wants to make a Co-Warden position for her best friend. She’s the Warden, everyone’s really decided. It went from ‘no one wants it’ to ‘okay well how many people get it’ fairly quickly when the people no one liked didn’t show up, I think.”
“Is it not part of those democracies here that something at least a little shady happens, and people want recounts?” inquires Aishia, tone hovering on legitimate sincerity for quite a spell. Though expressions soften some, lips even quirking a ghostly suggestion of a smile across her countenance, as she adds, “I’ll send my one vote to King, yes. No double votes. No manipulating Ezra or Evelyn.”
“No, if they’re wise, I think Alice and Stelle are both hoping the other winds up Warden,” Miles advises Aishia, grounded plane forgotten as he pulls out his phone.
“I suppose if people are unhappy with the results, they’ll have to take it up with King,” Alice muses, taking the question seriously. She raises the gavel, then, and declares, “Last call for nominations, tonight. If there are no more, we’ll move on to Pass the Gavel, and I’ll explain the rules.”
“What if the votes equal? Coin-flip decides the fate?” Aishia adds now, nodding once as Miles pitches in informatively.
“Alright,” Shay nods his acknowledgment to Alice, and glances about the room. “So… I guess everyone agrees that Stelle is the Warden? Speak now or forever hold your peace.”
Looking to Shay, head tilting, Ambrose supposes, “… no… we’re still… going to vote.”
Though then, eyebrows knit together and Aishia looks over her shoulder at Shay. “I was.. going to say, is that not what we are going to vote for?”
“I’d say jello wrestling match but then you’d get mad,” Miles sighs at Aishia. “But I think the bylaws mandate rock, paper, scissors,” he transparently lies.
“If the votes are equal we will both stare at each other until the other caves and accepts the position,” Stelle replies, settling deeper into the couch now.
“Right, right, to King,” Shay looks to Aishia and Ambrose, and then coughs into his fist.
“Yes. I’d be so mad about somethign that does not involve me and I am not forced to participate in or even be around at.” Aishia remarks, after she lets go of a sigh first, too.
Unperturbed, Ambrose settles back into his stillness for the time.
“Also unfair cause Stelle is physically way way stronger,” Sofia remarks to Miles, then casts a glance to Aishia, looking between the two and saying, “Let’s not do this though, think we’re moving on to the next topic.”
“If the votes are a tie, we’ll all say we should have done ranked choice, but then no one will actually do anything to learn how ranked choice works or to implement it next time,” Alice says. “We’ll move on to Pass the Gavel. The way this works is everyone gets a turn with the gavel. They can speak as much or as little as they like, although please keep everyone else’s time in consideration. You can talk about more or less whatever you want, within reason. Worries, concerns, triumphs, questions, gripes. There’s no judgment. There’s no interrupting. You have to be recognized by the gavel holder to speak. And once we’ve all gone, we’ll have closing remarks, and adjourn. Any questions before I pass the gavel?”
Esme looks amused at something but then settles in for Pass the Gavel
“..Some of them are more interesting than others.” Anna decides as she follows a traveling object in space that isn’t there in the dream. “There are some people like Mister Ambrosia, he’s a vampire, and he has a bunch of childer-ens or something. He’s interesting. There’s something weird about vampires in the diplomacy place. I see a bunch of Court members here, I think. So, like.. But some people are just people you’d find in Boston. They don’t make sense. They act like there isn’t Minotaurs so tall you can’t kickflip over them.”
“I’ve been giving Alice homework that’s made her substantially more powerful,” Miles informs Sofia enigmatically, then prepares to shut his mouth for the gavel-passing.
“Same,” Ambrose reports back to Miles.
Alice nods, hearing no questions, then approaches Annabelle, extending the gavel to her. “Newest member will go first, tonight. Talk about whatever you want. Or nothing. Um, maybe let Aishia go after you. I think she might be sleepy. Also, if anyone needs to go, you don’t have to stay for this. The super important stuff is done. This is for team-building.”
Annabelle takes the gavel with a sudden widening of her eyes, like she’s been handed some relic that’s too hot to old. Her fingers wrap around it slowly, and she blinks around, a’deer’d in headlights. “Oh wow. Hi everyone. I’m not Annabel Lee, but I am Annabelle Lee. There’s a difference in spelling, you’ll sea(e). Um. I’m going to be here for as long as I’m allowed before the trees get tired of my medical practices. It’s nice to meet you.”
She looks for something Aishia-shaped, and settles to hold it back to Alice.
Sofia casts a glance over to Annabelle and says, “Anna-Belly,” nodding her head once as if that was simpler to remember.
looks down as something is retrieved in her hands. “Oh god they’re handed me a hammer why? Why am I getting a hammer what did I do do I talk oh they’re just dream people.” This realization occurs, and she murmurs something alone the lines of, “Oh wow. Hi everyone. I’m not Annabel Lee, but I am Annabelle Lee. There’s a difference in spelling, you’ll sea(e).”
“Hannibally,” Miles gives Annabelle a thumbs-up.
Obadiah snap points at Sophie and gives her a thumbs up
“Oh-kaay..” Annabelle mouths faintly at the extensions, one and all of her name. “SomeonetakethehammerI’mapacifist.”
Alice nods enthusiastically for Annabelle, and gestures. “Go ahead, just pick someone. Anyone. Hand it to them.”
Sophie offers to take the hammer from the Annabelle, the poor sweet pacifist with a happy little wiggle of her fingers.
Annabelle aims it at Miles, throwing it with a form to sigh at. For the better, he’s nearby, and though it’s definitely a ‘ball’ sort-of call, it’s at least within his armspan.
throws something into the dream scape. It’s not a particularly a talented throw, her hair-stuff getting got on his hand-stuff. “I threw it. It’s like Thor. If I held it I get to talk forever. I could’ve become a dictator, but I’m a pacifist. I can’t hold a weapon that long. I threw it at Kilometer.”
Reaching out, Miles tries to catch the flying hammer but fumbles as it hits his thumb and deflects. He’s able to catch it on the bounce, then sets it in his lap. “Uh. I’ve got nothing really. I tasked Obie with investigating some missing persons cases we’ve been seeing in the Quarter. Once he has some information, I’d like one of our swords, or our incoming master sword, to take a team with him to handle the situation. Maybe Obie’s got more information on that, I dunno,” rather than throwing the hammer, he offers it to Alice while kicking out to catch and pull the paper airplane back. This, he nominates as the new talking stick, by throwing lazily Obadiah’s way.
“No.” Anna shakes her head. “I just think the metric system works better. I’m encouraging its use.”
Obadiah takes up the stick, “Uh. Been working with Miles on the thing. I can brief on that later if someone wants. I uh, also been helping with the mists when I can and…. trying hard to keep… out of the way but I am around if people need me and can put up with my bull… baloney.” He grins then punts the stick to Esme cause he is a good friend like that
Aishia says “Hey, Pax. Good to hear from you again. We’re at the meeting.“
Miles says “Good to hear from you. We’re having that meeting right now. I’m sure there’ll be minutes soon.“
“Nothing, because Mister Kilometer caught it. He’s a fisherman. Holds a harpoon.” Anna explains, miming this device with a long brushing of cylindrically formed fingers.
Esme peers at Obie as she takes the gavel and then shrugs. “Uh, yeah not much from me either. I’m here and around if people need me. Happy to help out with whatever.” She pauses and then adds, “Have a lead on a relic in Russia, but I’ll have more info on that later next month.”
And then Esme passes the gavel to Sophie
Obadiah leans over to Miles, “Which one is Sandra again?”
“Cousin,” Miles answers Obadiah like that’s any help.
Sophie glances at the item she’s passed and takes a moment to look around the room, “Well, everyone has a bunch of nothing to say it seems and now I feel a little sheepish as I came here with a lot of shit to say.” A little shrug follows, “But if the vibe of the group is that relaxed, I’ll leave it be.”
Sofia says “I have shit to say, go ahead if you’ve got stuff.“
“Speak up?” Meridith insists.
Alice urges Sophie on, nodding.
Esme nods in agreement.
Stelle waves her hand and nods, “Go on, yes.”
Ambrose nods agreement with the rest.
“I’d go, but I’m still stuck in Transit.” Anna laments, though it’s an excuse she’s easy to fall on. The comfort of it is extended into the form next to her, where she turns her hips to face the same direction he does and lay her head upon him. “I saw Esme in my dream. She seems okay, I guess. If she’s wounded I can’t tell. Some people don’t haf-tuh care like me.”
Sophie glances at Sofia and someone before squaring her shoulders, “Well fine. I’m Sophie, not to be confused with Sofia – the queen of pizza. I’m just her minion. And, I’ve fallen feet first into everything here. I really appreciate the people in the Order and the work that can be done, but I’m not sure if being the punching bag of every Hand or Court joke is part of our work title. I know some people have been away but, I’d really like to see us kick a little ass in more places than just a raid. But, maybe I’m just reading it wrong, but nobody seems to be really interested in that.”
Sophie glances at Sofia and the others who comment before squaring her shoulders, “Well fine. I’m Sophie, not to be confused with Sofia – the queen of pizza. I’m just her minion. And, I’ve fallen feet first into everything here. I really appreciate the people in the Order and the work that can be done, but I’m not sure if being the punching bag of every Hand or Court joke is part of our work title. I know some people have been away but, I’d really like to see us kick a little ass in more places than just a raid. But, maybe I’m just reading it wrong, but nobody seems to be really interested in that.”
“Depends on what kind of ass kicking you mean,” Sofia says, leaning casually into the arm of the couch and glancing to Sophie. “You have any specific thoughts? Cause part of that was what I wanted to talk about.”
“I didn’t know there even was a dream parlor..” She murmurs. “Maybe it really was ‘just the tip’ or something. But, like, I wonder. How does any of that actually work? Like. How’s she supposed to connect ‘having sex’ with ‘divine punishment’ if she can’t know she’s fabled?”
“Point of order!” Obadiah says wagging his finger, “There are several courtiers here, one of which is me, so mathematically most of the jokes are not about the Order, as I am a smart ass. But I will concede some of them are.”
“I mean making sure our Acolytes know what the fuck is going on so they can join in and help with mist hunting, events and boroughs. Making sure we have a clear list of our plans so that people can take initiative and offers support without waiting on someone whose barely around to give them a thumbs up.” Sophie says, a little firmer but still wary, “That kind of knowledge shouldn’t be so hard to bleed out of people or make those who are busy feel guilty over.” She points to Obadiah, “Plus that, split loyalties and all..”
Head angling at a slight sideways curious tilt as Sophie speaks her mind, and brings up said aforewarned ‘shit’, Aishia gives a few understanding and accepting nods here and there. With Sofia then pitching in with agreeance of her own, her eyes flit over to her too. “Please, I’d like to hear your thoughts, too, then. You have always struck me as someone who has already helped us plenty in showing we are quite capable on the field – Along with everyone else I have fielded with, for that matter.. Most of the raids I have managed to attend before were.. confident displays that I was proud to join in on.” A pause, a nod, and she continues, “I have been away too much and am still catching up on local events, so I am unsure how many.. more attempts have been had to paint us as some punching bag?”
Sophie tosses the gave to Sofia, “Here ya go.”
“I had sex therefore I was hit by a car?” She snorts, kicking a rail at the end. “That’s dumb. Esme will never stop having sex like that. Just because you have sex with someone you’re not dating doesn’t you’re poly. The powers on high are stupid.”
Sophie says “We’re still going! Definitely welcome.“
Shay says “Are you outside? I can open the doors.“
“I mean, I’m pretty sure I kick plenty of ass, I just don’t like… go around beating the shit out of people who don’t ask for it,” Miles contributes to Sofia while making a face and tilting his head as though he’s not entirely sure he understood her meaning. “As far as mist hunting goes, it’s actually kind of counterproductive to go out and do it with somebody who’s way stronger than you are, and actually way better to go with people around the same strength,” he advises. “Which is why you don’t see a lot of like… top-down instruction in hunting. It’s not effective. I’ve put out like half-a-dozen guides and like… compilations of tips, though. As well as a lot of compiled information. I’m also pretty sure my jokes are, uh. Better than the Hand’s,” he complains petulantly, but otherwise cedes to hear more of what Sophie and Sofia have to say on that subject. “Could you elaborate a little more on the ass-kicking thing?”
Miles’s initial response was probably to Sophie, rather than Sofia, or Sophia Lin in the other room.
Likewise, Ambrose looks to Sophie and then Sofia on the subject of taking names and kicking ass.
“Remember that you’re supposed to get cleared by the gavel-holder during Pass the Gavel,” Alice urges softly. “It’s fine since this is a good discussion, but make sure we’re not walking all over each other.”
Sophie says “Uh, yes.“
catches Sophie’s gavel toss with a nod and twirls it, declaring “STOP!” Then a pause for a beat, “Hammertime.”
Wearing a goofy grin, Sofia gets a bit more serious and says, “First Sophie, lemme address your point about Acolytes and newer members not being in the loop enough, and say that that’s probably a big reason for the leadership change up. The folks who haven’t had the time to assist directly are moving out of the position and being swapped in with fresh faces. I’d really like to see any new leadership be available to assist new members one on one, and that’s something our Warden will need to consider.”
“Secondly, and what I was looking to bring up, was a bit of an open discussion on what boroughs we’re going to be targeting. Knowing that some of us were working on Killgrove, it seems we’ve been eclipsed there by the Court. I think we have a lot of people able to leverage stuff to get us more influence across the city. People willing to run events, always people hunting. But we need to have a better approach top-down to where we will be directing our resources.”
Shay says “It’s still on going, even if you’re just coming in to put name to face and say your hi’s and hello’s.“
Alice says “I’ll be putting up a summary announcement. Come on and join us for the last bit, though.“
Shay says “New Haven Botanical Gardens.“
Alice says “At the Botanical Gardens. I’ll come upstairs and wait for you.“
Shay says “AKA our HQ.“
Sofia says “And in better news it looks like we’ve pulled way up in the lead on the Ivory Quarter, but we need to be looking forward to the election calendar to see where we can contest, and ideally not step on too many toes. Get a lead early and hold onto it where we can.“
Sofia says “Anywho, anyone wanna chime in on these topics before I pass the gavel off?“
Sophie asks with a little glance around the room, “How the ..how do we battle the Court for a borough if half our members are in the Court?”
Lifting his hand, Miles raises it to offer a response.
Esme says “Just tossing out that sometimes it’s easier to get the lead when you’re comin’ from behind rather than getting an’ early lead. But that’s more for consideration when you’re focusin’ in on were you wanna go for“
Ambrose starts to do the same, but lowers it at Miles’s own.
Lola slips into the lounge area alongside Shay, and her bootied feet carry her slowly towards the couches. The witch doesn’t sit as she listens to the back and forth between her fellow Orderites- instead she finds a dark corner behind the couches, nearby the flag of the Order Librarians, and she worries at her lower lip with her teeth as she keeps her tiny self in the shadows. She listens, and she watches, but speaking doesn’t seem to be her forte; at least not right now. Her breath catches softly between her lips as she attempts to speak, but there are too many people, too many voices, and so she simply closes her mouth and shrinks in on herself, keeping her eyes low and her words for a different time.
Sophie gives Lola a little wiggle of her fingers in greeting.
Esme settles back in her seat though, ready to listen to the rest.
Shay puts a hand up to his mouth, looking thoroughly amused upon Sophie’s question, but then hovers that hand to shake lightly to Sophie in some disapproval. He leans in to whisper to her, though.
Stelle nods at Sofia.
“Being incumbent seems to make it very difficult to hold. Better to rotate, from what I have seen so far,” Stelle comments.
At Stelle’s words, Ambrose gives a gentle nod.
Obadiah nods to Sofia, “The way to win the IQ is for the Hand and The Order to switch back and forth every election cycle.”
“Either way I feel like it’s very important that we have a game-plan so we can get events, drop-offs, everything coordinated, and spreading this information needs to be delegated to the respective division heads to their teams, so everyone knows what goes where, instead of sitting on items or sending them to places where we’ve already made enough impact,” Sofia nods back to the group at large. “Anyways, this is something that leadership can decide, I just wanted to bring it up as a pressing point we need to sort out sooner rather than later, I don’t want us leaving anything on the table.”
Sofia looks for someone to hand the gavel off to and decides on Stelle, giving it a gentle lob.
“So, regarding one-on-one time, that’s great, but I don’t think it’s fair to really expect that from leadership. There are more new people than there are people in leadership by a ratio of like two to three to one at any given time and it’s just a recipe for like… stressing leadership out and exhausting them. If they have the time, they’ll make it available. But I don’t think we should like… expect it,” Miles suggests. “Even if it would be optimal. We all only have so much time and leadership has a lot more things they have to spend it on.”
“On the subject of boroughs, I think it’s actually a good idea to not coordinate on it for specifically the reason of divided loyalties. I think it’s better to like… organically form teams and blocs within our organization that don’t have divided loyalties and can focus on specific goals that don’t cross their personal lines,” Miles suggests. “It also makes it easier to like… compartmentalize information, and it just works better since the more you invest into one area the less it’s worth. It ensures we’ve got our work spread out a little more and gets us a lot farther. So if you want to take on the Court, you can just talk to some of your friends in the organization who aren’t in the Court and organize it. You don’t need permission, you just need a vault to drop stuff off at.”
“I think working to get Killgrove is still something we should look to do. I uh, been trying to head there to put in some of my harvests, but the mist has just been marinating in there for a while now and I got roped into other stuff. Busy, busy,” Shay tells Sofia. “But yeah, definitely get Killgrove and IQ both. I think we had that talk before that it’s better if we don’t just focus on one borough? So, Killgrove and IQ>”
“Mmmh.” Anna responds dreamily, giving the passenger a smooch. “It is. I’ll wait for you.”
“But by and large it’s definitely more beneficial to like… really spread out our borough efforts, than it is to heavily coordinate and centralize and focus on one area. That’s one of the many things that bit us in the ass in the Quarter,” Miles advises.
“I’ve got-tuh get to classs..” Annabelle murmurs, making for a stand, finding this to be a poor decision for her leg, and slapping right back down on the couch again.
Sophie groans, “Class..ugh.”
Sofia waggles a finger at Miles thoughtfully and says, “Maybe to your point here, it would make sense if the leader is someone with no divided loyalties for groups to clique up by society they are in. Have the Warden delegate to teams that are in a society to collaborate on areas that they aren’t working on. So, several sub teams that can have their own group chats, share information, all reporting to the Warden for orders and direction.”
“Part of my talking points would also have involved Killgrove and events I had planned before.” Aishia notes, though subdued. She’s got enough to chew over, mull on, and catch up on while other people take turns forwarding suggestions, opinions, and information.
Alice taps Stelle on the arm as she walks past, murmuring softly to her, “Fill me in on what I missed,” and wiggling her phone to indicate how.
Stelle nods and pulls her phone from her pocket, tapping away like a woman possessed.
Sandra comes along trailing after Alice, but then she beams a big smile at Obadiah, running up for a big warm hug. “Obie!!”
“Sup cuz,” Miles greets Sandra, then promptly turns his attention back to Sofia to nod. “Sure, it can definitely work from the top down, but that’s like… kind of exhausting and meticulous to organize. It can also be organized from the bottom-up, and it’s honestly kind of a lot easier to do that way when you factor that most of the contributions are actually coming from the same like… five to six people.”
“I missed a little bit of the conversation – do you mind if I cut in? Things Sophie and Sofia brought up were issues I had, too, as an Acolyte and as a scroll. We felt a little directionless, or maybe I wasn’t asking the right questions. I more or less agree we probably need to decide, either from the top down or the bottom up, to focus on maybe two districts at a time, if we want to take any,” Alice mentions.
“Just cuz something is tiring, it’s worth it.” Sophie says, giving a nod to Alice.
“I think to Sophie’s point though, there are a lot of people who want to contribute in a more focused way outside of those five to six but don’t know how,” Sofia nods easily back to Miles. “So teams could help in that regard.”
Obadiah leaps up and gives Sandra a big hug, because, of course he does, lifting slightly then setting her down. “Enjoy the last little bit. I gotta go in like, 20-30 but welcome abord.”
Sandra smirks at Miles, pulling out of the hug of Obadiah shortly after it began anyway. “Aw no, here’s trouble.”, she quips to Miles with a wink. “I been okay. Learned a little more about maybe not jumping off a boat after a shark. Long story, how you been faring?”
“More announcements from the leadership could help there, too,” Ambrose placidly posits in agreement with what Sofia and Miles say. “Or teams, whichever.”
“Yeah, I agree with what Sofia’s saying. I also think that the group chats we have for our fellow, uh, divisions, haven’t been used too well. We can use that to text each other if it’s more preferred over comms, if say, someone who is totally new wants to be a Sword and needs the guidance for it? Use the group text.” Shay expresses for the rest of the gathered.
Alice looks confused, muttering to herself, “There are group chats for the branches…?”
“This is all food for thought for sure, and I’m sure something Stelle, Alice, or any of the other nominees could weigh, I just wanna get it out there.” Sofia nods to Miles, Alice, and Sophie before glancing to Shay. “Yeah, I’ve never been in a branch group chat.”
“The Swords hand one, I do not know about the rest,” Stelle explains to Alice, “But we have not used it at all, really.”
“Yes? Aren’t you in the Scroll chat?” Obadiah asks Alice with an arch of his brow
Esme says “Scrolls have one too but also not used much at all “
Sophie adds a comment, “There’s a Scroll chat?”
“I hope the new leadership can fix that, then. I think we can really get things more organized with a, you know, more active group chat.” Shay nods in agreement with Sofia.
“I think there was a period after what happened with the Quarter where we decided our strategy with boroughs would be to give no direction,” Miles recalls. “And it kind of worked actually, with way less effort than our failed campaign in the Quarter. So there was like… a method to that madness. I think there was a Sword group chat but I don’t remember the last time I’ve used it.”
“News to me, too,” Ambrose supposes of this Scroll chat.
“Nope, I’m not in any Order group chats” Alice announces plainly. “Are we still passing around the gavel? Has everyone had a chance to go?”
“Fine fine I’ll fix it, give me a moment,” Obadiah says with a heavy sigh.
“It’s a paper airplane now, but I don’t think it’s made the rounds, no,” Stelle comments.
“I’ll take the gavel, I guess.” Aishia supposes, though first looks at Ambrose. “There was one. Briefly, at least, that I know of, to set up a meeting amongst the Scrolls. They went for food at one of Pax’ places, I believe.”
Shay begins to itch his skull. “Thought everyone knows we have group chats. Made me think it’s just the Swords that have one for a moment, there.” He then quiets himself when Aishia takes the gavel, allowing her to speak.
“Also, like, if you want to contribute kill some monsters and cut them up. Drop them off at a vault. Ask other people where the vaults are. Alternatively, schedule a raid. Take care of investigations. Go on adventures,” Miles offers some options. “But I don’t think you should like, obsess over it. It’s counterproductive.”
Looking with a bit of a weary, shellshocked grin, Sofia tells Miles, “I think I got a few gray hairs making sure we got Elysia in the last week there with events and stuff, but it worked out in the end.” She glances between Aishia and Stelle, supposing, “I gave a metaphorical gavel pass to Stelle but happy to see Aishia talk too.”
Alice mouths the word sorry to Sofia.
You’re welcome. Annabelle mouths back to Alice, half-asleep.
Ambrose also nods exhaustedly about struggling and working up over it, remaining slouched comfortably.
Sandra stays relatively close to Obadiah and Miles, but it’s clear that her attention is on Sophie at least for a good half a minute. She makes no attempt to draw any extra attention to that fact. She in fact shifts her attention to Aishia, listening along until Miles speaks up, and she raises a hand after, adding, “And if anyone needs a battle buddy out in the mists, lil cuz is back from the fishing trip.”
Stelle looks at her metaphorical hands and frowns. Metaphorically she must have missed this but she nods and holds her attention on Aishia.
Sophie stands and sighs, “I gotta get to class but, lemme know how this goes.” She slinks out past the group with a friendly wave.
Annabelle watches her fellow student leave with a wistful sigh, tied to the couch through anemia and a lack of crutches.
Obadiah starts busting up laughing at his phone before he makes to leave himself. “I have… no real reason to leave other than I am bored.” Fae. Addicted to entertainment. He glances to Esme, “Coming?”
“I mean you can try,” Miles supposes to Sandra. “I don’t think not knowing how is really like… the roadblock people make it out to be. Aishia did more in her first week fucking around the mist than most of us do to this day and nobody taught her shit.”
“Look. I’m not going to play a stubborn woman and demand being told I am right. Miles was right, earlier.” begins Aishia, a heavy confession that comes with a nudge of the head at said Mercer. Wan smirk fading, sincerity finds her as she gives her shoulders a little lift and fall, and continues, shifting her eyes from one of the gathered onto the next. “.. I have not been too active. Too present. At all. Some personal health issues. Some.. issues with the tribe. And I will not pretend that motivation hasn’t been as passionate as before. But to.. bring it up like I have been, yes.. That is perhaps quite.. well. call it what you will. Entitled. Privileged. Poisonous. Whatever have you, given how little I’ve also been giving back in these recent weeks.” Another pause, a nod of the head, and a low, “I am sorry for that.”
“To explain a little, and this is not to bring up long-buried axes, please.. But I think most of us remember there were a few moments tensions were a bit higher. Sometimes, stuff was brought up that was not.. fun to discuss. About alliances. Or morality. Goals. I remember Shay, too, has had to vent this a little when it felt talking points or concern was either overheard or brushed aside.” she gestures a little here and there, ever animated with gesticulation as she speaks. “My own prime times to do work around the time are off. It was a lot of lonely work, back then.. The patrols, the hunts. I think my point of defeat kind of came when I had been preparing a several-day-long Faire at Sable’s. Evelyn helped with it and super passionate about the idea, her nephew has connections with party favours and helped me source big.. uhh.. sumo suits. I had boars prepared for hog-jousting. All kinds of little games and competitions. But I don’t think it was heard when I tried see if others wanted to help out, participate, or were even too eager about it.”
She quiets a little, sheepish smile offered around. “Bad timing on my part, too. I think one of us had plans for multiple workshops, too, which was a great project in its own right, too.”
“What I’m trying to get at.. I knwo I’ve been way sour since I last that spark. Have been.. using it wrongly to lash out more than.. do the Order thing. Am trying to find that spark again, trust me, and I’ll promise to do better. It is just hard to communicate how it feels to kind of naturally be out of tune with a lot of the going-ons, and.. well.. still trying to find a purpose and place alongside you. Not, ust.. you know.. as the solo huntress, scout, patroller, or raid attendant. And that I’m a little cautious about it, because of perhaps clashing interests in how ‘relaxed’ I feel around people at times.”
Esme nods to Obadiah, “Yeah, I’m exhausted.” She agrees, “Past my bedtime.” Rising up to her feet, “Looking forward to hearing about the rest though.”
“I… I have shops in all of the wrong places for this…” Lola says, finally speaking up despite her otherwise self-keeping personality. “I have a shop in Aurora Heights and a store in Fairefield… I could put vaults in them for the Order, but it won’t net us a push towards the places we’re actually gunning for,” says the witch softly, easily mistaken for talking to herself as she looks down at the time on her phone. “It’s… Sophie… Sophie is also right,” she claims, slipping from the shadows only to head for the door herself. “I… I should get to class as well. I need to knock someone off of her top-of-the-class pedestal,” she claims, a bit bold and a little vicious before she waves to all. “If anyone ever wants to go hunting for the sake of alchemical resources, weak or strong, let me know. I tend to linger where I can be wreathed in mist, but I am willing to adjust my approach for the sake of a learning experience for someone weaker.
Seeing her education try to take advantage of her injury to get away from her, Annabelle presses herself up off the couch with both hands and scopes out her options. They land on the shelf by the wall. With a one foot skip, she hobbles over and begins to do one-leg squats as she takes all of the herbs and pots and set them on the floor. She then takes the shelf, and, wiggling two fingers through a hole in it, she then uses it like a crutch to swing out. She will be the success story to tell her grandchildren, the things she did to get to school.
“They’ll be important eventually,” Sofia supposes over to Lola with a smile. “As elections turn over, so will the places we’re trying to target. So they’re good to have in your back pocket and communicate with leaders who need to communicate to the rank and file.”
Sandra smirks softly and rolls her eyes. “I don’t have a single worry about being able to handle myself out in it.” She turns her head and vaguely nods toward some distant others. “I meant it probably won’t go very far. I’m young, people don’t take that seriously.
Ambrose breaks his placid and drowsy silence to inform Aishia, “I understand entirely.” But the weight of something-or-other is heavy on him, and he’s nestled back into his chair in stillness for the time.
Alice stays quiet, as she should during Pass the Gavel, listening to Aishia with rapt attention. When the gavel finally comes back to Alice, she nods, and says quietly, “Thank you for sharing, Aishia. That’s exactly the kind of thing Pass the Gavel is for. It was very big of you to apologize, and I think we can all relate to feeling burnt out and hurt. Just take things at your pace, okay? I’m sure you’ll find open arms.” She offers a big smile, then looks out over the crowd. “We’re roughly at the adjournment time for the meeting – I think Stelle needed to go, anyone else?”
Meridith lifts her hand.
Alice shoots Meridith a nod of acknowledgement.
“It’s cool, Aishia. We’ve all been there on losing that spark. I’d just like, ask people going forwards, to keep in mind that sometimes when leadership don’t seem like they’re hearing you, it’s not really that they’re not hearing you, it’s that there’s some reason they can’t address the issue and it’s stressing them the fuck out just as much as it is you, but they have to grin and bear it. I’d have definitely thrown down in a sumo suit, though,” Miles gives Aishia a thumbs-up.
“You’ll get that spark back eventually, no need to rush it or do it artificially,” Sofia nods on back to Aishia with an easy smile. “Order can’t be a full time job for all of us, no reason to stress it. Thanks for sharing.”
“It feels strange, at times, to not be so inclined to be relaxed, coy, or flirty around people I don’t really know. And I grow a little weary of how often I have to swat the few people I tend to find away, the likes of Luka or Kai, of Jakem or Lewis, who really do not seem to have much interact of interaction outside of what I guess you’d call ‘shooting their shot’.. I do not get to meet many people, and often it are just.. those types. Or people I think to trust, and who stop exchanging words across our phones the second I tell them I do not care to be courted when I do not even know where I stand and belong in town fully.” Aishia continues relaying, though at quieter a tone. Not so much having to play a speaker now. “.. It is unfair you lot got grouped in at my general.. lashing out at that aspect of maneuvering social life in this world. On reflection, it does probably look like I am acting like every interaction’s been like that when it are just speed bumps on an otherwise decent experience.”
Stelle pauses a bit, staring down at the Gavel. She doesn’t seem particularly attached to the object but she offers her thoughts up regardless as people begin to shuffle out. First, towards Aishia, “I do think that people would love your events, it certainly already sounds like something we’d all enjoy. I think there is just euh… Well, the times we are active, no? It happens. That and while euh… there are certainly many that are looking for the sort of attention you mention in the city I really do not think it is the majority and I have found that it is better they cut themselves away earlier rather than later if that’s what they’re looking for.”
Then a shift inwards towards herself, “As for myself.. I think most of the people I would have wanted to hear it have left already, but it can be equally important to reach out to those you look up to as it is for them to look for you. It is always difficult to determine what sort of attention someone might need without having a chance to speak with them. I’m hoping either Alice or myself can help with this though, no?”
Sofia nods gently to Aishia and says, “None of those people are in the Order, but I certainly get what you mean. Lewis was, but he’s deceased now I believe.” She then turns to focus on Stelle and listen.
“Left,” Ambrose corrects Sofia. “… far as we know.” Maybe a little grim.
“Whoo boy, I think you just rattled off the whole band of ’em,” Miles marvels at Aishia. “Though thankfully Lewis has left town and there are probably a few new uh… shooters… about.”
“Two of them were Order. Three, if you count one who shifted sides.” Aishia replies, quieter. But after a pause, and with a smile, Aishia adds, “None of those currently with us. Mind.”
Sofia nods back to Ambrose and Miles, saying, “Ah, left, gotcha.”
“The prawn dong don juan was Order?” Miles makes a face.
Her part said, Stelle tosses The Gavel in Meridith’s direction. It’s not the best toss but it’s not horrible. Sort of.
“He was not,” Ambrose denies Miles’s query.
“Spent about twenty hours making a multi-piece suit.. Talking jacket, waistcoat, tie, socks, shoes, pants, accessories even.. for one of them. Who then went quiet after he pushed Pax into trying to sniff out how he should go about courting a Wildling.” Aishia mentions to Miles.
“Who’s the new Master Sword?” Meridith wonders aloud first, snatching it with ease.
“Not decided yet,” Alice informs.
“.. Should have charged up-front. But I guess the design sketches are there, and I could just.. use those for another customer, at some point.” Aishia notes, to herself now, fingers snapped all ‘god damn it girl’.
“Some people truly do not get the hint,” Ambrose empathizes with Aishia, in his placid way. A beat. “… would it fit me? Aesthetically or size?”
Sandra peers around at Miles, Alice, and Aishia, taking a seat on one of the couches. She keeps a prim posture and places her hands in her lap. She looks among the others, and opens her mouth to speak again, but this time it just hangs open and she ticks her glances among the three again. Her gaze drops to the floor and she closes her mouth. She looks at the gavel after its flight, which so far seems to be a completely independent game of pass and catch, having nothing to do with the conversation or who’s been speaking
“I’ll be honest with you, I was pretty reluctant and undecided on taking up master sword until I met Lewis and realized I had to,” Miles makes this admission to Aishia, holding up his hands in a mea culpa. Glancing over at Meridith, he suggests: “I don’t think we can really decide until we know who the new Warden will be. But my vote would probably be for Stelle or Sofia. We can decide that within the swords once the Warden’s chosen.”
“Aesthetically, yes. Size.. No.” Aishia remarks, lips pursing a little as she contemplates over Ambrose. “.. I can send you the sketches for review, if you’re curious. Steel-blue with champagne-golden accents, even sourced leather from Venice for the shoes.”
Meridith nods. “Um. Well, what I wanted to say was that, I have had issues with the Order, but what I want is to fight bad dudes, and beat up monsters and work with people. The Order is my tether to my goodness. There’s been doubts about my loyalty and stuff? And that sucks but, while I might not be the most like…upright, person I do mean well.” She gestures. “I want us to do big hunts together into the mists! And work together a little more. And anyway, I am here because I like the Order and I definitely am not working for the Hand, that’s uhhh, all.” She lobs a mallet delicately to Alice.
Alice very nearly gets full-blown clocked by the gavel, but she manages to catch it, although she has to juggle it once or twice before she gets a hold of it. “I’m sure you’ve more than proven your loyalty by now, Meridith,” she reassures, turning the gavel thoughtfully in her hand. “I’d like to close out the meeting now – it’s about bedtime. Was there anyone else who needed to go and really needs to get out what they need to say?”
Something gets Aishia contemplating, eyes shifting over to Meridith. “If you’d like a big hunt, I could consider organizing big game hunts in Navorost, before.. Anyone of you ever fought a.. what are they called here again.. Giant, feathered.. raptors.. Uhh.. A rex? Or, perhaps, the Mercers would be more inclined to see those bigger sharks that haven’t made it in your oceans. We actually sell necklaces with their teeth dangling on it lots on the border towns.”
Stelle comments, “I want to fight a Thunderbird…”
Shay shakes his head to Alice simply, having devolved to just the occasional murmurs and side-hugs with Rinwell throughout.
“I killed a thunderbird once, then the Bunnyknight made fried chicken out of it,” Miles recalls.
Miles says “Probably never will again, since God has turned his back on my Nikes.“
“Oh, I’d love that,” Shay does add, in response to Aishia. “More hunts, yes, please. More raids too, why not.”
Miles hangs his head sadly.
“I have still not seen a live one but I will be sprinting at it when I do,” Stelle returns.
Stelle says “He hates my Jordan’s too…“
Sofia nods at Ambrose and says, “Time to switch to Adidas.”
Ambrose dips a solemn nod to Sofia, stirring a little from his weariness.
Alice waits for a few moments, then nods emphatically, and raps the gavel twice on a nearby table, ending the meeting with two sharp clacks. “Okay. In that case, meeting adjourned. I can’t thank you all enough for making time for this, and I think we’ll come out of this all the stronger. Please reach out to me if you need anything, whether it’s Warden stuff or not. I’m always free to chat.”
Sofia totally meant to nod to Miles but tired.
Alice says “Meeting officially adjourned. A huge thank you to everyone who took the time to come out and speak their minds. Make sure to get your votes in to King, and come Monday, we’ll know who’s directing the future of the New Haven chapter of the Order. As always, please reach out to me for anything you need – whether it’s Warden business or not. I’m always happy to talk.“
“Please people, eat some pizza, I brought a lot!” Sofia calls out, cupping her hands around her mouth.
“Definitely down for dinosaur hunts,” Ambrose murmurs quietly as he starts to rouse, his enunciation probably somewhere around ‘fuck-awful.’
“Thank you. Until next.” Aishia bids in farewell, dipping her head at this-a-person and that-a-person, before she withdraws from her spot and makes for the upstairs at leisurely pace.
“Not enough cheese,” Alice declares around a mouthful of pizza.
Alice gives a little goodbye wave to Aishia. “It was nice seeing you!”
“That’s the spirit.” Aishia mentions over her shoulder, offering Ambrose a crooked yet enthusiastic smile. There’s something akin to a hint of appreciation in it.
Sofia pouts at Alice and says, “You just want a breadbowl full of cheese.”
Ambrose gives a little haze of a grin back to Aishia in turn, but after a beat, placidly admits, “… I… apparently know just enough to get myself in trouble. But yes.”
“Thanks for organizing things,” Miles extends to Alice, standing and lazily stretching once the meeting’s been adjourned. “I’m going to go take a nap, I think.”
Stelle stands from the couch and comments, “Alice just wants cheese period.”
“Okay,” Alice declares, “It’s past my bedtime. I’m going to bed. I’m taking the pizza. Acting Warden privilege. Goodnight.”
“I can grab some pizza, why not. Thanks, Sofia,” Shay turns from his little chit-chat with Rinwell to smile to Sofia. “I think Rinwell would like some, too?” He shifts his look to Rinwell again.
Miles says “I mean it wasn’t a meeting about you, we had a lot of prior topics that required discussion and that you seemingly had no knowledge of or interest in. Sorry you felt ignored, we’ve got a lot going on.“
Alice says “FINE I’ll leave some pizza.“
On his way out, Miles steals the cookie box. Get fucked.