Goblin Town -- Logs

After the zoom call to Papua New Guinea, things progress rapidly -- such that the little group begins their flight for Nusantara only a day later! The visit there extends for as many days as necessary to set things aright -- or, in some cases, to begin the process of repair. Consequently, an entire month has passed before Cinnamon, Thorn, Shane, and Marcus finally return home to Coblyn Street! Veles (who was utterly invaluable in getting things done) chooses to remain in Nusantara for the time being, to ensure all the group's plans come properly to fruition.

Fortunately, due to several satphone calls ahead of time, Cinnamon is able to invite people over for a wonderful celebratory dinner to both thank everyone who helped so much, and share all the fun stories with them all as well! The little dragon also promises a large spread of food to all her dear friends who assisted in making this excellent trip a very great success. Other folks happily offer assistance as well: Elias suggests he bring wine and his home-brewed root beer, while Hilde is going to bring desserts, and Jaeger has some savory treats in mind. Lorcan, Bob, and Ang are also invited for their assistance (though they all three regretfully decline due to work), as are Josie and Spice, Keiko and Baird, Sparrow and Kestrel (though they're not sure if they can make it), Aisling, Tre and Navin, and more. In fact, after some discussion regarding how many folks will likely be present, Marcus even offers to have it at the Residence -- since it's clear there are going to be too many people for it to be comfortable in Cinnamon's tiny cottage.

Cinnamon-dragon lands at night on Currier's Hall, like usual, then drops down to the circle below. The cheerful scarlet dragon is almost prancing down the street once Thorn and his luggage are unloaded (with happy reminders to meet at the Residence the next evening for dinner) -- she is so proud of how well she and her dear friends did in Nusantara! They trot on down to the Residence to unload Marcus and his luggage, reassure him that they'll be on time for the dinner the next evening... and then the happy little dragon and Shane head back to her place to dump their luggage, then fall asleep for the night -- it was a very long and busy 24 hour trip from Lombok International Airport on Praya island in Indonesia, to San Francisco, and from there on to Boston!

However, when Cinnamon goes to her bathroom to put her toiletries away before bed -- she finds a new affirmation there! It's centered on her mirror and stuck into place with a pair of garnet-encrusted shell hair combs, and the little note reads: The sunlight on your hair rivals the sun on the sea. That makes her both squeak in shock, and blush! She comes back with them in her hands, and a confused look on her face, "Asthore, how... hmm. He must've mailed them here, and asked Spice or Josie to place them!" She grins tiredly, "Naughty people..." then yawns! As she sets the combs down on the little bedside table, she adds, "If we're sweeties, though... does that mean I shouldn't accept gifts from other men, or something? I absolutely don't want your feelings hurt, after all!"

Shane chuckles and wraps Cinnamon in his arms, examining the combs as he murmurs, "My love, my acushla, a ghr�... accept the gift. He put a lot of thought into it." He kisses the top of her hair, then adds, "Unless you don't like it."

Cinnamon snuggles up to the cuddling with sleepy contentment, "Mmm!" She listens, then grins shyly, "W-well, they are... kinda pretty? But... are you sure it's okay with you, asthore?" A heartbeat later she puzzledly adds, "How d'you know he put a lot... oooh! Did he ask you first, or something?"

Shane shakes his head, "No. They're just thoughtful. They match your hair... they're abalone instead of tortoiseshell, so he made sure it's not having an effect on an endangered species, which you'd hate. They're garnets so they aren't extravagant, which you wouldn't accept due to them costing too much. I'm fine with it, acushla... promise." He gives her a playful scowl, "Are you accusing me of lying about it being okay with me?!" Then he winks and kisses her nose to make sure she knows he isn't really upset.

Cinnamon squeaks! -- then giggles tiredly and snuggles up again, "Well... okay then, milse�n." As her eyes start to drift closed, she sleepily adds, "Mmmaybe I'll wear 'em t'morrow... t' dinner..." Seconds later... she's out like a light in her beloved's arms. Shane looks down at Cinnamon, smiling as she conks out. The more he thinks about it... the more he's starting to realize: perhaps she could use the affections of more than one person. He thinks she really needs to finally understand how beautiful she is... so maybe having not one but two men obviously smitten with her might do it? He lets the thought slide onto the back burner as he nestles in to sleep as well.

The next morning Cinnamon is energetically recovered -- which is good, she thinks, as she's got a lot of cooking to do -- so she can bring delicious food with her to the potluck celebratory dinner they're having that night at the Residence, to welcome them all back home! In fact, that evening, Cinnamon looks quite a bit different from when she left. Her normally indoor-pale skin is now a warm, healthy tan, and there's a cute little sprinkle of freckles across her nose and cheeks. Her eyes sparkle too, with a new-found confidence -- she now knows beyond the shadow of a doubt: she's both useful, helpful -- and liked! Perhaps most dramatically, her hair is now a brilliant scarlet -- a wind-tossed little mane of flame threaded with sunshine-bright gold, that fluffs out from behind a pair of pretty jeweled hair combs to frame her face and tumble down to just past her shoulders.

Initially at least, on the trip, Shane had somehow stayed just about the same color as always, his hair not taking on any highlights. Of course, he spends time outside all the time, so perhaps it's his genetics? Beansidhe hair -- at least the ones with black hair -- seems to resist any sort of sun-induced lightening. When asked, Shane had just blinked and pulled a lock of his hair forward to examine it, then smile, "No, acushla, the blue-purple highlights are natural -- they've always been there. The only changes I've actually seen in any beansidhe's hair are... the reverse. Those that spend more time outside under the moon have more blue."

Marcus, on the other hand, currently looks almost like some sort of sun deity. His hair has lightened to a near silver-white with golden streaks, and his skin has warmed not to a bronze, but to almost a shimmering shade. The colors of his skin and hair make his blue eyes seem glimmeringly luminous even in low light, now... such that even with his ears covered by his hair, he looks weirdly, beautifully inhuman. Thorn has also tanned, and his hair is a shade or two lighter. It was a busy trip, but he's glad to have made it. It stretched his healing talents a little, but that didn't bother him at all. Moreover, he was surprised and glad to see Cinnamon grow into her role as councilor!

However, Shane's comment about his hair proved true when the little group had to spend a lot of time doing nightwork, to discreetly move a great many folks around. After two weeks, Cinnamon noticed her asthore's normally warmly golden skin began to pale considerably, while his hair was suffused with those rich, blue-purple highlights. Unlike humans, however, the half-beansidhe going pale didn't look sickly -- no, instead his skin first simply lost the human pinkish-brown warmth. After that, a day or so later, it began to take on a pearlescent gleam that made his amberish eyes have an almost wolfish shine in some environments! Now, when next to Marcus, the pair of young men look like eerily beautiful representations of Day and Night: a glittering sun in the bright blue sky, and the mysteriously gleaming moon in an ebony night. Cinnamon finds herself both slightly tongue-tied -- and equally, tremendously and happily proud -- to be seated between two such beautiful men! Though also, she's clearly not really aware of just how pleased both men are to be on either side of her as well, framing her cinnabar-and-copper loveliness.

The little dragon is clearly hungry, eating neatly but voraciously in between her happy chattering about the trip they've all just returned from, "-nd we were able to mark off almost all the ten issues that remained to deal with! Some of them were surprisingly easy," she glances around at her trip companions, "don't you guys think so too? -and some of them were harder -- but we figured things out eventually! Plus: so gorgeous there and sunshine and beaches and diving and wow!" She giggles, pausing long enough to have a drink -- and so others can talk too! Seated on Cinnamon's left, Marcus is silently daydreaming -- remembering with pleasure just how remarkably, breathtakingly beautiful the group's off-time had been for him...

Cinnamon had been determined to try and not eat their hosts out of house and home, so she'd researched online about ocean fishing birds, to try and teach herself how to fish in dragon form. That first time... whew! She'd been adorably unsuccessful -- splashy, drippy, and sneezing -- and stars and stones but Cinnamon does the cutest little dismay chirps! But later, as the little dragon learned and improved...
Everyone had been standing on the beach and watching, since Cinnamon had asked Shane to remove her leather gear so she didn't ruin it in the ocean. The island was isolated enough that the scarlet dragon hadn't been worried about being spotted... and so, early one morning, when the islanders told her where the tuna runs lay as the large bluefins headed south post-spawning, she'd excitedly flown out to see if she could perhaps spot and/or catch one or two. Marcus had simply savored the beautiful moment as Cinnamon flew slow, lazy flips and spirals while searching for a tuna feeding frenzy -- the elf didn't think he'd ever seen something so graceful and lovely in action as the gleaming, brilliant-scaled dragon!
Then Cinnamon had spotted the telltale splashing, and circling seabirds, that denotes bluefins in a feeding frenzy on herring -- and with an excited chirp, she'd straightened up, angled herself at the proper approximately-60-degree angle -- then dived into the ocean with barely a splash! Everyone had laughed and cheered, and then waited... and waited... and waited! The tuna kept diving in and out of the ocean after the frantic herring, with the waters splashing and sparkling... but no Cinnamon! People were starting to glance worriedly at Shane, but the half-beansidhe had remained calm and unruffled. When Marcus had finally murmured a worried query, "Is she... okay?" Shane had cheerfully replied without glancing away from the ocean, "She can hold her breath in human form for about half an hour!" People had looked either awed or dubious, but Thorn had nodded and smiled... which, for some reason, made Marcus feel a small internal twinge of jealousy: he wanted to know remarkable and unusual things about the lovely little dragon too! Then and there he decided to be sure to go swimming with her -- after all, if she loves it as much as Shane and Thorn have implied she does, then... it'll be more time spent with her -- even if it is in the ocean! -- and maybe... maybe someday he'll get to swim with her in a nicer and more civilized lake too...
It was a good twenty minutes or so before someone shouted and pointed at the churning ocean surface. Just as Marcus glanced that way, the restless waves churned and exploded out into sparkling fountains -- as Cinnamon came bursting upwards into the sky! Wings beating powerfully, she rocketed upwards for a few heartbeats -- then simply soared effortlessly ever on upwards... until she slowed, then paused at the apex of her rise. Marcus' heart had leapt at the incredible sight: gleaming ruby bright shining dragon, dripping wet, sparkling diamonds... poised spread-winged and cruciform for a heartbreakingly perfect instant against the achingly glorious sunwashed cerulean sky...
-and then she'd... slowly... tipped -- her slender serpentine form answering jealous gravity as she began her long, gliding fall -- further and faster and further down, down -- as people blinked and started to look worried -- the ocean was coming up fast why wasn't she doing anything- ! -until, laughing with delight, she'd snapped out her wings and leveled out her glide, zipping along just above the ocean's surface! Careful observation showed she appeared to have two large tuna too -- one clutched tightly under each arm!
A heartbeat later, as the gleeful dragon sped towards the island again -- abruptly and without warning: a hunting tuna leapt out of the water almost directly before her! Cinnamon had reacted reflexively, her head whipping out and her teeth snapping closed on the large, gleaming, slippery body. The tuna had fought madly the entire short time it took her to return to the island -- where she was able to drop the three dead tuna she'd grabbed and bitten behind their heads, to kill them quickly -- as it turned out, she'd had to carry one with her hind claws! They and the still-thrashing fourth tuna were dropped where the delighted islanders could hastily grab them and haul them off for immediate feast preparation...

...though in the Residence, in that moment of memory, Marcus has to school his expression to calm -- because of Cinnamon's hilariously rather put-upon expression at having a wild tuna madly and repeatedly whacking her across the snout with its powerful tail! Seated on Cinnamon's other side at the Residence, Shane is covering a smile -- as he remembers what happened a few days later...

The combination of abrasive salt water and intensive sun had resulted in a very sad little dragon! Initially she'd been incredibly itchy while in dragon form, which led to her rubbing against trees and rolling around in the sand -- which had helped, mostly, in working off her unexpectedly shedding scales... except for the occasional really tightly-sticking patch that just wouldn't peel off, darnit! Cinnamon had ended up lying full length in the shade on the beach, wings all stretched out as well, as she quavered in a sad little voice to Shane, "No one warned me I would moult!" He'd just petted her nose and crooned gentle reassurances, since he knows how much that means to her... while Marcus continued gently rubbing cocoanut oil into her skin, carefully working off the handful of patches of itchy, dried scales that still remained.

When Jaeger, at the Residence, curiously asks which of the Nusantaran issues was the most difficult to resolve, Spice snorts and Cinnamon laughs -- and then, glancing at each other, they nearly chorus together, "The fuckin' siren!" and "The siren!" Thorn laughs, and Cinnamon giggles, when Spice snarkily adds with an awful faux English accent, "Wat'ry tarts lobbin' aboot songs is noo basis fer a rational system of government!"

Shane grins, explaining, "Movie reference," to all the lost-looking supernaturals.

Cinnamon cheerfully adds to Jaeger, between bites of food and occasional helpful interjections from her companions, "See, there was this little enclave or, um... well, it was a nice little island with a safe bay that supernaturals lived next to, right?" She goes on to relate the issue: several boatloads of pirates and drug traffickers were docking at that nice, sheltered, hidden little bay. From it, they'd either strike out at passing commercial and private traffic, or avoid military search boats during their runs. However, the supernaturals just wanted the pirates/drug cartel gone because the island is -- or rather, had been -- a hidden enclave which was accidentally betrayed to a drowning sailor who was rescued by one of the kinder-hearted and more human-appearing supernaturals. Also, the supernatural elders were a bit concerned some of their young would be seduced by drugs and easy money, as well... so they wished to get all the human criminals out of the bay at once, so the island could be properly re-hidden again, and any supernatural youth who needed it could be helped get clean again.

Jaeger nods solemnly, "We are, sadly, no less susceptible to addiction than humans. In fact, some of us are actually moreso, as we have no need for medications and drugs for healing much of the time. Alcohol isn't normally a problem, but things such as opiates? They can be quite the dire situation."

Cinnamon nods to Jaeger... then grins as she thanks Baird and Keiko for coming out for that issue! "So then we all sat around, with Veles -- oh, he's still there, to make sure the plans go through okay; isn't that awesome of him? He's been totally amazing in making sure we could all get things done! Um, where was... ah, right! So one night while we were brainstorming, Baird said what we really needed was a yacht full of rich fools and gold, that would pull all the raiders out at once! ...and that's when it hit me: maybe a siren could do that? You know, like sing them all out to follow her, like in that Greek myth? So everyone said that was a great idea, so I called Spice -- who was the other reason everything worked so well -- no, Spicy, don't look at me like that! You totally were!" Cinnamon giggles at Spice's profane mutterings, then cheerfully continues, "-and she asked Elias and he did the research and found one in Greece and Spice got the info back to me and we flew out there and once we found her Marcus persuaded her to come help us and she did and the pirates all left and the elders reset the borders and we flew her back and then landed on the island and yay! Mission accomplished!"

Keiko tips her chin up, "It was very, very lucky that my man also knows just the right people to contact so once the pirates were far enough out, they found themselves confronted by all the right coast guards and military police -- and it didn't matter what false flag the pirates flew!"

Baird rolls his eyes, "It's just I know the tricks people use to slip prosecution."

Cinnamon giggles at that! Shane snorts amusedly, "My acushla is making it sound a lot easier than it actually was, too! We had a lot of back and forth, and here and there, to make everything work out!"

Marcus nods wryly in remembrance -- it had not been at all easy, in truth! -- but Cinnamon beams, "I'm just glad things worked out so well in the end, peeps!"

Shane slides his hand under the table to playfully stroke Cinnamon's leg as he teases her about how much she's downplaying the difficulty, adding, "It made herding cats seem like the easiest thing in the world. It was like herding children who were herding leprechauns who were herding cats." Cinnamon squeaks a bit startledly at the unexpected -- but certainly not unwelcome! -- touch on her leg -- then (despite turning rather pink) laughs at Shane's explanation.

Marcus blinks at Shane's very apt analogy -- then murmurs dryly, "Please do not manifest that into reality! I will have nightmares about a herd of leprechauns cackling and chasing dozens of cats down the street."

Josie giggles, "No one's valuables would be safe! Not to mention, no one's dark laundry." The little dragon laughs again at the banter from Marcus and Josie, beaming despite her flush -- this is really a very nice dinner, she decides!

Hilde too laughs, "Wait, wait -- what about the volcano?! I read in the outside news that it finally erupted, though I assume you got everyone away safely? What happened there?"

Cinnamon beams again, nodding, "We did -- we absolutely did, Hildy! -and Veles was totally awesome there too. See, he'd already met with them -- the really non-human looking ones that the Red Cross couldn't see -- so he had them building a really massive raft of the biggest tree trunks they could chop down, to carry them all to the area where the rest of their people were! When we got there, we loaded them all up and then I dragged the raft to rejoin them with their folks... and then, once that was done, we took the raft ourselves, and flew to that bit of coast in Australia where the boat people that are like oceanic Romani had washed up after the terrible storm they wrote about -- this was like almost a decade ago, if I'm remembering correctly -- and found about half of them were intermarried with the locals and didn't want to leave..."

Shane's eyes are twinkling, "That's how you get the really good fresh bloodlines -- you seduce the best people that show up from outside." At the word "seduce," he slides his hand nearly all the way up Cinnamon's leg beneath the table!

Cinnamon turns even pinker! She manages to continue through her squeak and nervous giggle, "Ah! Uhhh... right. Right! Okay, so we took the rest with their permission back to the area, to the island where the people had written about being worried about starving, and both tribes agreed to at least temporarily work together to keep them all happy -- the boat people would fish, and the island people would make sure the boat people had all the materials they needed to keep their boats repaired. So then we took the raft itself, and headed off to another boat community -- they are so cool, how they actually live just on the ocean, mostly, in big floating rafts made up of the connected individuals boats, but just when the weather's nice, of course -- but they, the migrant boat community, needed more materials, that's what they said in their letter, because their matching landside community had mostly either moved away or died, so we gave them the raft since those logs would keep them in materials long enough to find another community to match up with!"

Cinnamon pauses there for a gasp of air and a drink -- and to wryly reflect to herself: she's really making this sound so, so easy -- when in reality there'd been hours and days of flying around and being a bit lost, or being treated to feasts by the grateful islanders -- food that really couldn't be refused, which meant staying more days to go fishing and/or foraging for them so they didn't starve... and other littler parties or questions or time-consuming problems that invariably cropped up!

Thorn adds, "Wasn't there something about the peace treaty the two Papua New Guinea supernatural tribes signed? Something about how they wanted it witnessed by a 'neutral party'?" When encouraged, he continues, "So the headman of one tribe had already demoted his second who lied to him -- Veles found that out! -- and signed his side of the treaty, and was Cinnamon's representative to sign the treaty for her. But then the other tribe at first wanted Cinnamon to sign it in person -- they were worried it had been changed somehow. We spent all afternoon going over the treaty with both parties before they finally agreed that it hadn't been modified! Meanwhile we're trying not to draw attention to the siren drawing in all the pirates and traffickers offshore, or the fleet of coastguard ships coming in over the horizon...."

Shane nods and rubs his temples, "Diplomacy is the art of lying prettily sometimes."

That makes Jaeger snort amusedly! "And of course, dear boy, they needed you there to make sure the lies were kept to a bare minimum."

Cinnamon laughs, nodding! "It was kinda totally, overwhelmingly busy, yeah!" She giggles excitedly, adding, "The party afterwards was fantabulous too, wasn't it?!" People laugh, and then Josie asks about the little handful of young and adventurous Akoesdi Ayvwi who'd agreed to try island life. Cinnamon brightens, "Oh, yeah -- that was so nifty, JoJo! So they came out on the special flight that Spicy arranged for them with that supernatural-run import/export business Sparrow told us about, right?" She blinks, then grins wryly, "Ask me later about our flight out, though -- but anyways! So we met them at the airport and then we flew with them out to the island with extreme weather issues -- where we introduced them and the island tribe and their new sea-Romani allies, right?" She beams proudly at the two men seated on each side of her, "Shaney was amazing at keeping them all calm while flying with me, too -- and Daki-kun was fantastic at keeping everything all friendly and helpful! So it looks like the Ayvwi people are happily burrowed into the volcanic stone now, and the island folks are working with them to try and shore up the side of the island that's most often hit by storms, and the ocean tribe thinks the Ayvwi are awesome folks to swim and fish with, and they're all working together to make things better there! Is that fantabulous, or what?!"

Jaeger raises a brow, then smiles almost impishly at his son! Marcus actually flushes at the nickname. He knows the -kun is the male Japanese equivalent of the more feminine -chan, and means a cute or sweet boy. He also knows Cinnamon gives almost everyone nicknames, but they're almost always just shortenings of their names like JoJo or -- as with Baird -- adding something like a Y to the end. But with Marcus, she's using his true name and the -kun. He's not yet sure if she realizes it's betraying her feelings of growing affection... but he's certainly not going to push it!

Cinnamon completely misses that interaction, though even if she'd seen it, she certainly wouldn't admit she picked the nickname she did because she was pretty sure he'd be unhappy with her calling him 'Marcussy'! Instead, still focused on Josie, she happily adds, "Oh! Also, that island was the big storm barrier for quite a few other, far flung islands -- and two of them had problems too! One of them needed help protecting their nearby, very threatened fisheries, and the other had folks that thought the island was sinking -- but after some sea supernaturals examined the areas, they told us the fish around the first island needed their coral reefs rebuilt from storm and tourist damage, and the other island was just having all its beach slowly swept away by both normal sea currents and the occasional storms -- and isn't it funny how often things all intertwine? The beach was getting swept away because they cut down the mangrove swamp there for the tourists to enjoy the beach, but since the beach was vanishing there weren't many tourists coming any more -- so I asked Spice to give Kyesha and her mangroves NGO two million, so she could get her folks to replant that side of the island!"

Spice grins, interjecting, "Kyesha and Adiratna were fucking incredulous -- and then Adiratna nearly cried, she was so happy! An' yeah, before you ask, we fucking well set things up right! The money comes monthly from an absolutely legit-looking source."

Cinnamon almost glows with happiness at Spice! She cheerfully adds, "Plus that's part of what Velya is making sure of, for all of us -- that the plantings happen the way we planned -- oh! Also, at Kyesha's suggestions I did some research online, like I did for Sparrow? -- and found another nonprofit that does rewilding projects -- which is such a cool idea, right?! -- and one of the projects was for artificial supports to regrow coral reefs! So we started feeding a million to them too, to make sure they'd work on this island's coral desert too, to bring it back to life again... oh! Plus Kestrel a while ago mentioned a place in Florida that hatches baby sea turtle eggs -- like, a scientific group, right, you know? -- so we asked all the islanders of that chain if they had anyone that wanted to go to college to maybe learn how to be a marine biologist or anything like that -- and there was some! So Spicy set up a trust fund for college for anyone there that wants to go to college and then return to the islands for at least five years to help their people -- isn't that cool?! -and we set up a coalition of elders from across all that island chain to maintain and dispense the Nusantara Island Chain College Fund to good kids, and it sounds like they might someday soon both have much better coral reefs! Oh, and also they're going to try planting oysters for an oyster reef to lessen the storm impacts and that'll be more food too but they'll have to return all the shells they harvest though they promised they'd do that and once the coral's a reef again the turtles will return and Velya said he'd look into who to contact about maybe hatching turtle eggs there too once the beaches are safe for the babies and..." She pauses for another gasp of air, quickly reviewing... "and I think that's all for that isla- oh! Oh, right: and also I'm going to do some research on how to culture pearls and if it's the right kind of environment and oysters and if there are places to train anyone interested -- and if so, Velya and Spicy and I will make that happen for those islands too!"

Jaeger smiles, quietly impressed at both how much was accomplished, and how long Cinnamon can talk on one breath! He asks thoughtfully, "Have they looked into sterilizing and cleaning up old, wrecked vehicles to create a reef? It can help to keep them from going into landfills."

Cinnamon nodnods to Jaeger, "Actually, there's an awful lot of WWII vehicles down there too -- I was really surprised at how many!" She giggles, blushing as she adds, "We had some really nice times we spent just relaxing for a day, diving and snorkeling and exploring the reefs -- they're sososo beautiful!" Shane slides an arm around Cinnamon's shoulder to resist teasing her further. The twinkling in his eyes may give something away to the more... worldly of the party, however. He needs to remember to discreetly tease Aisling, because he remembers the day well...

It's been a long day for Shane. The little group had decided to split up to cover more metaphorical territory in helping folks, so Shane, Veles, and Thorn had been motorboating between a handful of islands. Thorn wanted a chance to check in with all the supernaturals and ensure they were healthy and well, which necessitated Veles for translation... and after some discussion, the group had decided Shane should go along to ensure everyone was telling the truth, and so Veles had some backup in case there were any scuffles. Cinnamon and Marcus were going to stay where they were, since the islanders had need of someone very strong to move some volcanic boulders... and Marcus could be her hands as necessary.
Perhaps unsurprisingly -- since this seems to happen more than Shane would like -- there is indeed a scuffle... when a very sick child's parents and extended family argue over whether to allow the strange white witch doctor to be near their child or not... by which, of course, they mean Thorn. Shane isn't entirely sure how things developed so quickly, but Veles later mentioned religio-political concerns motivated one of the child's uncles to go get his allies in the rest of his family, to stop the 'dangerous white soul-stealer.'
Thorn clearly remembers that day as well -- it's not every day the healer gets called a 'witch doctor'! Honestly, though, he can't blame them for distrusting him; white folk have done them no favors over the decades, if not centuries. It had been suggested he not wear his Healer's Whites here simply because they'd get filthy really quickly. He is a little surprised at the scuffle, however. The parents are fairly desperate to see their child healed from the dangerous jellyfish stings she'd gotten, and Thorn himself is more than happy to help, but the uncle is... very much against that. It takes both Shane and Veles together, but with their combined (and considerable) martial capabilities, and the fact they're both trained in non-lethal martial arts, no one gets seriously damaged... though the child's mother later had a furious screaming match with the uncle, who was her brother.
The one good thing about the scuffle is the distraction it made gave Thorn easy access to the child. The healer was later surprised there were any injuries -- he really didn't think the uncle would be that insistent. But the man was, and his sister (the child's mother) turns out to have a mean right hook! Consequently her brother ended up with both a black eye and a bloody nose. He didn't try to hit her back, but he did try (hilariously unsuccessfully in Shane's opinion; embarrassingly in Veles' opinion) to dodge. Afterward, naturally, Thorn had offered to heal the uncle as well, though the man had defiantly refused -- much to Thorn's confusion, until it was pointed out that the man would have completely lost face if he'd done so. Further, once the tribe observed Thorn's complete healing of the formerly sick child, and his mother clutching the healthy girl to her chest, sobbing in happiness and calling down blessings upon Thorn... everyone unanimously agreed the uncle deserved the injuries.
Indeed, by the end of the day the entire tribe is thoroughly embarrassed by their internal conflict, so -- as is par for the course for this part of the world -- the gift of healing leads to several extremely grateful (and still somewhat embarrassed) supernaturals inviting Thorn, Veles, and Shane to stay (aka, they were told they were staying in no uncertain terms!) long enough for a thank-you feast and some celebratory music and dancing. The villagers wish to show the kind foreigners that they are in fact civilized people, and the uncle (who receives several glares) is not an example of how they all see white people!
So Shane has every reason to feel sort of tiredly proud of how well the day ended up. Once the three men return to their temporary home base, they're also told how well things went with the other group by an almost literally glowingly happy Marcus. Things had actually gone so smoothly that Marcus and Cinnamon got done quite early in the day, and thus were able to spend the rest of the day relaxing on the beach, playing in the sand, and swimming for a bit! Marcus seems to be in a quiet but extremely good mood, and he congratulates Shane on how well their day went as well, all things considered. Shane has been slowly acclimating to his acushla apparently having a bit of a crush on the other man pursuing her, so he's pleasantly surprised at how nice it feels to be congratulated by his former rival. The half-beansidhe saunters toward the quarters he's sharing with Cinnamon with a light step and a warm heart -- only to stop dead in his tracks at finding her hunched up by the window, face blotchy and eyes bloodshot from crying! It takes him a mere second to nearly teleport across the room, dropping to his knees and gathering her up into his arms as he worriedly asks: what's wrong?!
Cinnamon bursts into tears again, clinging tightly to Shane when he appears! It takes her a while, but she finally manages to stutter out, with much sniffling, the source of her misery: "I'm so s-so sorry, asthore -- I d-didn't mean t-to do... to d-do it -- t-to do... Aisling-stuff! At... at M-M-Marcus!" Her voice is muffled due to her having almost buried her face against Shane's chest as she admits, "I, I know it's not right to do w-without consent, too..." She takes a deep breath, trembling a little with nerves -- is her beloved going to recoil in disgust? Is she going to lose him forever?! Wait, wait -- focus on now -- she takes a deep breath, forcing herself to add, "I -- I'll... I'll apologize to Marcus tomorrow -- I'm really-really sorry, asthore! -- and..." she closes her eyes miserably as she shakily adds, "and I... I'll understandifyou'resodisgustedyouwanttoleave!"
At first, Shane is utterly befuddled and apprehensive, his heart dropping into his stomach as he tries to figure out what Cinnamon is saying. He wonders bemusedly: ['Aisling-stuff? What the fuck?! Did Marcus somehow charm her into having sex with him? Did he use a knack on my acushla -- and then talk to me like we're friends just now? I will tear him limb-from-fucking-goddamn-li...!] -- but after carefully cuddling his sweet little dragon beloved, and asking a couple of gentle and trepidatious questions, his pulse slows and his temper abates... [Jesus fucking jumped-up Christ on a rocket-powered pogo stick... she means flirting! Her parents and sister deserve itchy arseholes and for both sides of their pillows to be warm, for the rest of their lives!]
Eventually, Shane gets the whole story: it had been a particularly lovely day on the beach, to Cinnamon! The local women and children had been there too, just relaxing and happily chattering together, with the kids playing happily in the surf. Cinnamon had greatly enjoyed swimming with them, admiring the beautiful underwater coral reef -- she'd even gotten Marcus to swim a bit with her! Later, when they were both tired, she'd been surprised and a bit flattered that Marcus had chosen to hang out with her, rather than heading over to play with what Cinnamon saw as very pretty young women. She'd chatted enthusiastically with him, swimming and sunning and having a wonderful time! ...to the point that she'd not realized her behavioral error until coming here to change for dinner. She had... the little dragon looks away as she admits this: she took deep breaths at Marcus! -and... and strong eye contact, and making agreeing noises whenever he talked and listening and... and all that stuff Aisling told her to do for that time in Ireland! The tears are rolling down her face as Cinnamon admits with shame: she even unthinkingly did that proposal-like hair-lifting thingie at him, for sunscreen to be spread on her back by the poor elf! The little dragon is utterly mortified at her shamelessness and unkindness... and not just because of the blatantly naughty way she treated poor Marcus! Here, Cinnamon gets both tearful and word-tangled -- it's hard for her to admit this! She doggedly makes herself continue, though... and finally she manages to confess her absolute disgust with herself because... because she actually kind of cheated on her beloved asthore -- without even meaning to! She doesn't know what's wrong with her, that she has so little self-control... but she's unfortunately miserably sure Shane too will be both horrified and disgusted as well.
Shane is very heroically not once cracking a smile... or even wincing a little at that whole 'cheating' thing, since it's blatantly a lie: there was no cheating! Cinnamon just subconsciously flirted with a cute guy. Shane may be -- as he has told people -- rather boringly heterosexual, but he knows when a man is handsome -- and Marcus is hot as fuck. The half-beansidhe is deeply relieved 'Aisling stuff' is simply flirting and not -- as he had initially worried, with his heart in his stomach and horror in his mind -- casual and playful sex somehow tricked or glamoured upon his sweetheart! He wraps his arms around his sweet Cinnamon, rocking his beloved gently as he nuzzles into her bright, sea-scented hair to hide the smile on his face (if not in his voice) as he murmurs, "Acushla, that 'proposal-like' thing you're talking about isn't really like proposing marriage. It's just... flirting. It's being playful, and maybe indicating to someone you think they're attractive. It might be 'proposing,'" and Cinnamon can definitely hear the air quotes in his voice, "that you'd like them to touch you in a sweet or sensual way... or maybe kiss your neck. It's not asking them to marry you, a ghr� -- or even telling them you want to have sex with them!"
Cinnamon curls up tightly against Shane -- if he's going to leave soon, she miserably decides, she is absolutely going to get all the snuggles she can as she confesses how awful she was! "But -- b-but asthore, it was M-M-Marcus -- another guy, Shaney! -- and he, he's totally g-going to think I -- t-to think that it, uh... th-that I w-wanted s-s-se- uhh, f-for -- er, and -- o-oh, and worse -- it wasn't you, asthore! I mean, I, I... I d-don't wanna flirt with Marcus and have him think I, that I... uhh, l-like some f-floozy, you know? -or that I m-might wanna -- w-want to... t-t-to..." Cinnamon cuts herself off with a small gasp there -- maaaybe not mention sex or other stuff she's still incredibly nervous about! Bad enough that Shane's been wanting to see or touch her stomach a lot, recently -- she's been struggling to keep her shifting or twitching away natural-seeming! Fortunately he hasn't seemed to notice yet (he absolutely has, but she hasn't realized), but... yeah, no talking about even scarier stuff right now, she decides! She misses the small wince she gives Shane as she tearfully adds, "I d-don't want him -- I want y-you! T-to be with me!" Admittedly, while the first part isn't true, Shane can tell the latter part is absolutely, unequivocally true.
The wince at the (probably unrealized and unintentional) lie is far from tiny, but Shane hides it as he keeps up the nuzzling and rocking and hair-kisses and petting. His voice is gently soothing, "A ghr�..." He takes a deep breath, wanting to make sure his voice is even and there's not even a hint of the mild pain the lie caused, or amusement at this entire situation, in his tone, "You can absolutely flirt if you want. I would never tell you not to flirt. He... -ck, sometimes I flirt without even realizing I'm doing it." There's a gentle breath of a whisper in her ear, "There's nothing wrong with finding Marcus attractive. He's an objectively attractive person. I'm not going to hate you or leave you or be angry at you for that... and I want to be with you... in any way, shape, form, or fashion you'll have me or want me. Remember what I told you, my acushla: I'll hold you only as tightly as you want to be held." He kisses the top of her head again, then whispers, "But I am going to hold you... forever! I'd handfast you tonight if you wanted."
Cinnamon blinks confusedly, rubbing her aching eyes with the back of one hand. Is Shane not... not really hearing her? Does he not realize what she means? She was doing Aisling-stuff! Stuff that people know means, umm... er, rather, is... is like an invitation! To... to do stuff! S-se-se- er, naughty stuff! But this... it... almost sounds like her asthore is telling her that... that he doesn't... exactly mind? That it's... somehow okay to... to do that inviti- er, that, umm... Aisling-stuff? But also that he... that somehow he still cares? But how can that even...? The little dragon frowns perplexedly, "But asthore, how can you... I mean, how do you even-" Oh, wow -- horrible thought: does her Shaney want to do that inviting stuff too?! She gulps, her hold on him tightening a bit from fear as she just barely manages to squeak out, "Oh, you... th-that, uhh... is this you saying, umm... s-saying that you w-want to... t-to do... Aisling-stuff... too?"
Shane tips her chin up so he's looking directly into Cinnamon's gleaming eyes, "My sweet little dragon, I only want to do Aisling-stuff with you, honestly. Since I met you, I've been drawn to you. But I'm not the jealous type. Think who my parents are. Do you doubt me Da and me Mum are madly in love with one another?" He smiles, knowing she's going to shake her head at that... which she does. "Okay. You've seen how shamelessly Quinn flirts. Mum finds it rather adorable and has no doubts that it's her he wants at the end of every day." Shane's lips brush against the shell of Cinnamon's ears, "And I have no doubts at all that no matter who you flirt or laugh with, or flash that pretty little neck at, or lock gazes with..." She blushes hotly as Shane lets fingertips brush just barely along the side of one breast and adds, "That it's me you'll be coming home to at night." Then his face goes serious, "And anyone that takes flirting as an invitation to do anything more than flirt back isn't worth your time. Flirting isn't an invitation to touch... or grab. Or do anything else -- and you have my explicit permission to knock anyone that tries to take it for anything more flat on their arse. Only yes means yes, okay? -and no is a complete fucking sentence." Shane rarely curses around her, so he must be quite passionate about this.
Cinnamon blinks wide-eyed at Shane -- not only is she now feeling completely mentally derailed by that eeEEKsotingly touch! -- but also, this is completely not how she expected this conversation to go! She hastily reassures her asthore, though, "No! No, n-no one's pushed me at all -- not once! Even Marcus was really, umm..." She pauses to think for a moment: did he even actually flirt back at her? She's... not really sure? Half under her breath, she mutters, "Darnit! How do you tell if someone's flirting back or not?" She absently nibbles on her lower lip... then realizes with relief: it doesn't really matter, actually -- the point she was trying to make to Shane, so he wasn't mad at Marcus or anything, was that the elf had been really nice this afternoon. She nods more confidently as she adds, "Marcus was nice. No pushing."
Shane smiles, "Well, you can always ask," -- that nets him a shocked squeak! "-but I suspect that the answer to your question, in regards specifically to Marcus, is that he was." Cinnamon looks wryly dubious as Shane takes a deep breath and says, "I think he has been for a while, but he hasn't been pushing." His smile is a bit crooked, "I wasn't a fan of that at first, but he seems to have legitimately turned over a new leaf. I believe you're safe with him -- and that's saying a lot," he takes another deep breath, "because you're the most precious person in the world to me." The paladin actually flushes, after that. Cinnamon knows how very devoted Shane is to his family, especially his mother. So to say that about his acushla is clearly stating a lot of devotion!
Cinnamon blinks slowly up at Shane -- she's feeling... very big emotions right now! How can her Shaney-asthore be so... so freaking amazing all the time like this?! How can someone so freaking amazing... actually like someone so small and unimportant and boring as her?! Her chest feels tight in the nicest of ways, and she feels weirdly tingly all over, and her stomach has a really bad case of butterflies, as she hugs Shane tightly. It takes her a few moments of firm hugging, in fact, before doubt hits her -- though it's not in regards to Shane's feelings for her. Instead, she gets a slightly bemused look as she slowly asks -- while, of course, continuing to cuddle close with her so incredibly reassuring asthore how does he even do that?! -- "Wait, though... why would Marcus, of all people... want to flirt with me? When there's so many pretty people around, too! Did you... are you sure about that, asthore -- that you think he's been flirting... with me?" She pauses at another slightly shocking thought that causes her eyes to widen in sudden excitement: wait! This means... she actually can flirt -- any time she wants -- with her freaking-amazing asthore! She blinks again... and then a slow, slightly mischievous grin crosses her face, "Wait, wait, you're saying we... we can actually f-f-flirt... us, together, right? Whenever we'd like to?" She's not quite ready to face her feelings about Marcus -- but aside from him, the idea of flirting is exciting to her -- because doesn't that mean she can excitedly flirt with her asthore... even in public?! She's a little pink at the thought -- but still bright-eyed with the possibilities!
Shane leans in close to her ear again, voice a bare whisper as he says with a bit of a purr in his voice, "Oh, you can flirt with me anytime, anywhere. But if you do, just be aware that it does very..." he takes a deep breath, then sighs it gently out against her ear, "naughty things to me -- you had best be ready to have me flirt back! Which might include..." he gasps playfully, "kisses!" Cinnamon giggles at that! He demonstrates with one on her shoulder, then continues, "Hugs..." He squeezes her and then his voice is low and purr-y again, "Or maybe even..." He slides the tip of his nose along her shoulder and up to the lobe of her ear, which he teases with his teeth, "Nibbles...." Cinnamon squeaks and wriggles at that, laughing -- and despite the two of them being a bit late to dinner, they both look quite happy when they finally arrive! The little dragon has learned a new and personally amazing lesson: not only does she apparently have permission to do 'Aisling-stuff' without feeling horribly guilty, but also... she now knows she actually really really likes doing it with her beloved!
Nearby, Marcus is in his own room with his journal and a very large smile on his face as he recounts the day in writing. He's almost triumphant as he does so -- because he's fairly certain Cinnamon had no clue how open and flirtatious her actions had been today! -- and that means they were her true actions and feelings! She was also probably utterly oblivious just how flirtatious his own had been in return, too... or she'd likely have turned into a very adorable red-haired rabbit! Which reminds him: must get those lovely shell and garnet hair combs he saw in the market. They're going to look amazing in her hair, and they'll fit in nicely with the next affirmation he wants to leave for her. But for now: back to the journal. All he really cares about, when it comes to the whole day, is that she smiled genuinely at him! She let him touch her. It was nice... it was comfortable -- it was fun! -- and maybe a little titillating too... he takes a deep breath and shifts in his bed -- and it was all definitely a step forward!

Back on Coblyn Street, at the celebratory dinner for their return, Cinnamon startles slightly when someone speaks -- she'd been quite lost in those more pleasant memories as well! She blushes, "Sorry! S-sorry, I missed that -- repeat, please?"

Elias laughs gently, repeating, "I asked if you'd heard anything from any of the councilors regarding possible refugees?"

Cinnamon blinks, yanking her thoughts into order... but then nods confidently -- she's got this! "So far, no, but I've not yet gotten to my office, Elias." She brightens, beaming as she adds, "I know it's a small thing, but I'm really going to enjoy changing all the pushpins I can on our map board from red to green! I'll check then for any letters or messages, of course." She grins at her friends, "Anyone who wants to come along for the celebration is welcome too!"

Spice grins at that... but then leans forward, chin in hand and elbow on the table as her brows draw together, "So... what about all the fuckin' non-human-lookin' people -- the ones on the volcanic island, I mean. What kinda species were they? I mean, shit, around here we got boggles and stuff... like, Butler's obviously not human and people would freak the fuck out about Groot-in-a-suit. But I thought most of the fuckin' mythology out there was more like... goddamn dragons and shapeshifters and shit?" Marcus blinks rapidly, mouthing, 'Groot... in... a suit?!' He looks puzzledly at Hilde and Torben -- both of whom are trying valiantly not to laugh! They are both, after all, huge fans of the MCU... and Spice isn't completely wrong about Butler looking a bit like Groot wrapped in a tux.

Cinnamon giggles at the mental image of Groot-in-a-suit, then replies to Spice, "Well, what we saw was that there were folks there from other mythologies too, if that makes sense? Like on Coblyn -- I think supernaturals are like humans, in that respect, in that they wander around the world too. Plus it's a gorgeous place to live, as well. So at the volcano there was a jorogumo girl, and a naga woman -- I think they were both immigrants? -- as well as other folks from other places. There was also a handful of local ghosts of various types, and an anggitay -- she looked kinda like a female ipotane? -- and a buta ijo family that all looked like huge, bright green orcs with too many curving fangs, and other local folks. There were only like ten or fifteen of them all together, but some of them were really big, and some were just really not human looking at all!" Cinnamon grins a bit sheepishly, remembering the first meeting of the unusual supernaturals on the island...

The scarlet dragon lands with Veles, Shane, Marcus, and Thorn, then shifts shape to human when Veles explains the remaining supernaturals had told him they wanted to give her a small feast before leaving that night -- both to thank her for her help, and to use up their remaining stores of food and other goods. Shortly thereafter Cinnamon bends over the big raft, curious about how it's put together. She lightly touches the pale... spackle? -- wondering what it is. It doesn't really look like rope? "Huh! What's this glomming-together stuff made of? It's not rope, and it's... sticky?"
There's a small, polite cough, followed by a quiet voice, "Ahh, that... that would be me."
Cinnamon turns around with a smile -- which instantly morphs into a shocked shriek as she protectively flings up her arms and jerks away! Leaning over her in the darkness is a truly alien (to her) visage: a narrow, pale, pointed face with lank and wispy... something? -framing it -- and with inward-curving fangs at the corners of the disturbingly wide mouth! No nose to speak of, and worse: six almond-shaped, insectile eyes! Stumbling backwards, the shocked little dragon trips and falls hard on her butt in the sand. She gasps for air for a second before she can wheeze out, "Sp-p-pider!"
At the yelp and sudden motion, the entity leaps back with an alien grace, one bound taking it almost 6' away! It lands, crouching nervously in preparation for fleeing... at which point everyone can see it's a jorogumo, or Japanese spider-woman. In the very low red lights Veles and Shane had set up (so as not to ruin anyone's nightsight), the woman looks almost diabolically creepy! Shane and Veles move swiftly -- Shane almost as quickly as the jorogumo -- to protectively flank Cinnamon while warily studying the entity. Marcus reaches the little dragon a heartbeat later, careful not to cross in front of the two more-martial men -- instead, he leans to check Cinnamon to see if she's hurt, true worry in his luminous blue eyes. Cinnamon is still wide-eyed with shock as she (slightly stutteringly) reassures Marcus -- she's f-f-fine -- j-just fine! Just... startled! She accepts his hand up, brushing her rear free of sand... then blinks as there's a relaxed swishing noise... and a human-headed naga slithers to a neatly coiled halt on the sandy beach between the jorogumo and the two warriors. Her slightly hissing voice is soothingly calm, "Please do not attack my adopted daughter... she is young, and forgets she might seem startling. She truly means no harm." Behind her the leggy jorogumo nods emphatically several times, looking rather alarmed as she tries to hide behind the much more slender naga. It's so incongruous that Cinnamon blinks a few times... then has to cover a giggle!

Back at the celebratory dinner, Cinnamon adds, "The jorogumo was kinda sad, in a way. We talked a bunch during the dinner, and she told me her story. She and a friend were on vacation from Japan and hiking on the island's beautiful mountain -- it wasn't actively, um... volcano'ing then? But it was rainy season and they both ended up slipping on mud and scree when the path gave out under them. The girl didn't know she was a jorogumo until her genetics or magical ancestry or whatever kicked in just before she was about to maybe die -- so she transformed reflexively, clinging to something on the mountainside and surviving. Fortunately for her, no one else human was there to see her do that... and it turned out the naga lady was this wise, kind oracle-person who knew to be there. So she helped Aki-chan make sure some of her stuff was found next to the body of her poor friend, who wasn't supernatural unfortunately, when human rescuers came looking for them." Cinnamon sighs, adding, "Aki-chan can't go to her old home now, of course. Her change was only about ten years ago too, so she's staying with the naga woman and learning how to be a good person so she won't kill humans by accident when she eats -- as well as how to hold her human shape if she shapeshifts." She grins as she adds, "She's an MCU fan too, by the way -- we joked about Spiderman and the Avengers all night!"

Torben grins, "I know it's cheesy..."

Hilde gently bumps him with her shoulder, "You looked hot in that Thor costume, though." Torben actually blushes.

Cinnamon giggles and nods cheerfully, "You did, Torben!" She blushes as she remembers what a stunningly attractive Jared Marcus made, too!

Shane grins at his acushla actually calling another guy hot. A moment later, though, he rolls his eyes and adds, "Remember that woman that was trying to record us on her phone?" Both Elias and Jaeger sit forward, shock and worry on their faces.

Cinnamon sighs amusedly as she shakes her head, "The scientist? Oh, yeah... good thing you and Veles caught her!"

Shane just shakes his head with a snort, "She thought she was being slick. She stumbled over us by accident and was trying to record us -- but..." he taps his cheek under his eye, "I have night sight and Veles is just eagle-eyed -- we saw her! We caught her. It's all good." He sighs wryly as he remembers the situation...

Cinnamon is in dragon form, figuring out with Aki-chan how to best hold or fasten the spiderweb ropes to herself, in order to pull the raft. Most everyone and everything else, of course, is now loaded onto or attached to the raft, ready for the dragon councilor to begin pulling them to their new home. As Cinnamon and her companions examine the ropes and likely attach points on her backpack/harness, the scarlet dragon doesn't immediately notice first Veles, and then Shane getting alert looks, going still for a bit as they murmur quietly together... and then sort of drifting away from the softly red-lit area of the beach. In fact, the first Cinnamon knows of it is when there's a startled yelp which is abruptly cut off... and moments later, Shane returns... with a very shocked, wide-eyed woman firmly in tow! As the woman is brought up by Shane, Cinnamon cranes her long neck around to blink at Shane's capture... then grins wryly, "Well, hello there!" -- at which point the woman blurts out without thinking, "N-no! I'm not a virgin!"
Cinnamon tilts her big, triangular head in perplexity, but tries to reply politely, "Er... thank you for sharing? Is that... a culturally appropriate greeting from your native land? If so, good evening, and... should we say we're not virgins either?" She turned that last bit into a question deliberately, of course -- because she's honestly not sure if she's a virgin or not, now! Her thoughts are a bit frantic: [Is kissing and having your partner orgasm enough, to say you're not a virgin? Or... crabcakes, can I just avoid this horribly embarrassing question entirely?!]
Standing next to the woman he's captured, Shane quite literally bites his tongue and manages not to grin or laugh, because he (of course) notices Cinnamon didn't actually say she's not a virgin -- she just asked the question! So technically she didn't lie. But he also knows that while his acushla has been happily exploring with him, there's still a line that hasn't been crossed... which means, for now, she still fits the socially accepted concept of "virgin." Of course, he's gently-but-eagerly working on making her more comfortable with sensuality and sexuality. This, however, is neither the time nor place to have that semantic conversation! In fact, several of the supernaturals are covering their mouths so they don't snicker, as the woman nervously stutters out that she'd make a terrible sacrifice to the dragon -- she's not a virgin -- please don't eat her! Cinnamon is a bit pink around the ears by the time the woman has explained, though she hopes the darkness is mostly hiding her embarrassment as she explains in return: "Um, thank you? -but, er... I really don't eat sapients, thanks all the same?"
The scientist blinks slowly at the dragon, having a panic-flash of a very old comic -- such that she imagines a speech-bubble above the dragon's head that reads: Do not eat me, senorita! She shakes it off, asking in genuine confusion, "What... what are you all doing here? Am I... am I dead? Because... elves and... and dragons and... w-what else?"
Cinnamon blinks confusedly at the woman, "Um... no? Why are you here?" The woman silently holds up some equipment for taking seismic measurements. Simultaneously, Veles is going systematically through her phone, making sure any and all evidence of them is gone. Cinnamon studies the woman: appropriate clothing for the locale, okay, and... are those huge goggle-thingies hanging around her neck? "Okay, but what... umm... oh. Are you one of the volcano scientists? ...and what are those things hanging around your neck? For that matter... what are you doing... oh, right -- measuring something, I guess, right?" She swings her slightly glowing gaze over to Shane, bemusedly adding, "What do we do now, asthore? We can't let her run tell her friends what's going on here, after all, right?"
The woman shakes her herself out of her stupor, "Yes! I mean, uh, I'm... a vulcanologist -- and yes, I'm studying the volcano at night... measuring seismic activity." Her hands go to her chest, "Uhm... they're, ahhh..."
Veles smirks, "Night vision goggles. She's wearing night vision goggles."
The woman nods wide-eyed at Veles, then confusedly asks, "How... how did you see me?"
Cinnamon tilts her head, her voice wry, "We can see in the dark... duh?" That seems to makes the woman's brain short-circuit somewhat, and Shane chuckles. She's been telling the truth so far. Cinnamon sighs worriedly, glancing at the raft full of waiting people, then back at the woman, "Well, you folks have an airplane to take you away when the volcano goes off, but we don't. So... hmm. Now what."
Marcus steps forward, "It's... better if you don't ask too many questions, Fr�ulein. It gets uncomfortable if you do." Smiling his brilliant and literally mesmerizing smile, he adds, "James, let me take care of our visitor, ja?" Shane mms and nods, stepping away as Marcus takes the woman's hand, his voice soothing, "You may call me Mulcahy." Shane, with his encyclopedic knowledge of names, knows the elf has given the woman an alias which means much the same as Marcus, his current name. The Germanic elf speaks quietly to the woman, taking the goggles off her neck as he leads her back out into the forest.
Veles chuckles and murmurs, "Charming bastard."
Cinnamon sighs in relief, then beams at Shane and Veles, "Yeah, just like his father! Also: awesome work, you guys! Velya, are you going to just drop her phone here like she lost it? Or... oh! Did you already drop it into one of her pockets?" She adds reassuringly to the folks on the raft, "Don't worry, Marcussy is really persuasive!" She pauses, considering that -- then mutters, "No, he'll hate that... Marc-y? Marc-kun? Ugh, no! Don't want him yelling at me... urgh, whatever! Later." She looks back at the supernaturals waiting for her -- and, in some cases, still covering smiles -- and adds more confidently, "We'll leave as soon as he's back, okay?"
Veles grins, then nods to Cinnamon, "It's already in her pocket, for wherever Marcus takes her."
It's only a few seconds later that Marcus comes back out of the trees, smiling, "She's going to be staring at the stars and contemplating the nature of the universe for the next hour or so. I made sure the goggles have no recording capability, cracked the lenses, and dropped her phone at her feet. She'll never remember this."
Cinnamon sighs in relief again, "Fantastic, Marcusss-" She catches herself just in time to not piss off Marcus amazingly by adding an affectionate diminutive to his name -- yikes! She needs to be more careful! "-sssohh... kay! Right. Okay -- hop on board, everyone! Let's get out of here soonest!" Marcus arches a brow at the odd lengthening of the sibilant in his name, then nods slowly.

Baird mms at the story of the reluctant spying scientist, "It is a bit shocking to be faced with a dragon when you don't expect it." He looks around the room, "How did the flight go?"

Cinnamon giggles at Baird's dry comment... then laughs aloud -- though her tone is clearly wry -- at the question! "It was... um, what'd they tell me... ah, right!" The little dragon's eyes sparkle with amusement, "The plane's crew assured me that any landing you can walk away from... is a good landing!" Next to her Shane chuckles, shaking his head wryly, while Marcus rolls his eyes with a smile. Cinnamon remembers it all quite well too, as she thinks about it...

The old ex-military plane owned by the supernatural-run company roars along through the air, completely loaded with both regular cargo, and the Coblyn group. Marcus' elmwood-framed box is securely lashed down near the big tail exit, with a somewhat unhappy Erin inside with him. The box they created for Marcus had been extensively tested, but they still had backup on the flight. It was heavy and made of multiple layers of padding -- including elm wood. The fact that a trod's wood made an effective barrier against iron was starting to slowly spread. Thorn, Shane, and Cinnamon are there as well, talking to one of the worried crew -- it's clear from the occasional lurches and engine coughs that something is not right! Fortunately they're quite close to Southeast Asia by now... but the crewperson is making sure everyone is prepared for potential issues. Cinnamon glances at the big box, then checks hopefully, "Well, would the plane fly better if something were holding up the back end and sorta... kinda driving it forward, along with the engines?"
Shane blinks and looks at Thorn, then back at Cinnamon, "I have no idea, acushla..."
The crew members, however are sarcastic about it, "Yeah. It would, but sadly, we don't have a giant balloon or a spare plane we can deploy for the boost."
That gets a glower from Shane. He doesn't like people being assholes to his a ghr�! However, Cinnamon giggles, "Okay! How about a dragon instead, then?"
The stressed out crew do various sorts of eye rolling and snorting. One of them even snaps, "Oh. Yeah. We'll just conjure a dragon out of the same thin air we'd get that spare plane. Thanks bunches."
Shane mutters about Sparrow having words with this idiot, once he hears about this bullsh... this bull! Cinnamon tilts her head confusedly, "Umm... okay? I mean... you do know it's me, right? -that, um, I'm the dragon?" She glances around even more perplexedly, "Is it... like, rude to you, or something, to accept my help? 'Cause I'm totally okay with it, if so... really! I'd like to help, if I can?"
The co-pilot glances over Cinnamon and rolls her eyes, "Yeah. Sure. Dragon. A two-hundred pound dragon isn't going to be much help keeping this beast in the air."
Shane's teeth grind almost audibly, but he lets Cinnamon defend herself for now, as she sighs and shakes her head, "Look, lady, do you want my help or not? If you don't, that's fine -- but if not, I'm going to take my friends and leave the plane -- we don't want to go down with it, and I have no idea why you apparently do want to!" She frowns consideringly, then adds, "Is the captain available to talk t- you know what, skip it -- I'll be right back!" She unsnaps her seat harness, rising and lurching a bit unsteadily towards the plane's nose as she calls, "Captain? Mr. Plane-Captain, please? We need to talk!" Cinnamon is careful but determined -- and even when some of the crew try to block her, she just slowly forces her way forward.
The captain's voice is tense, as if he's speaking through clenched teeth as he tries to keep the plane in the air, "Talk. As short and concise as possible, please." He's more aware of his passengers, but he's been more intent upon keeping them all alive -- and not hearing the arguments and scoffing like he normally would.
In the noisy cockpit, the little dragon shout/speaks, "I'm a dragon! What can I grab on the outside of the plane to help you stay up?!" She blinks as something occurs to her -- then adds, "Also, do you have any parachutes, maybe?" She knows she can most likely scoop people out of the air if worst comes to worst -- but it'll be easier for her, and safer for them, if they're falling slowly rather than plummeting!
The captain blinks -- then groans, "Fuck! I'm a goddamn idiot. Should've thought of this myself!" Then he nods tightly as he shout-speaks back, "Sparrow told me about you! If you can get us up level and add a little forward oomph... that could help. Level! Level is important. We don't need to climb and we definitely don't need to point downward!" A moment later he adds, "If you could not put holes in my fuselage, that would be best. There are some struts you can grab if your claws are big enough."
"Where are the struts, please? I'm not familiar with planes, sorry -- also, any parachutes?" Cinnamon glances back nervously as the plane jolts and shudders, then adds apologetically, "Also... can we hurry, please?!"
The captain counts under his breath, then gives the number of parachutes they have onboard... but unfortunately it comes up three short of the number of people actually in the plane. He shout-replies, "We're short three for how many folks! Struts... they're holding the rear engines on. Metal bars -- they're visible from above."
Cinnamon nods at that, thinking fast... then turns and heads for the back of the plane, where the big elmwood box is, "Thorny! Thorn, come with, please?" When she gets to the box, she nearly slaps open the door latches, hauling the heavy door wide enough to lean her head in and speak-shout, "Marcus! Plane's in trouble and we need to stash Thorn in here -- please? Do you trust me?"
Thorn blinks and stands up quickly, moving to where Cinnamon is, "Wait, what? Won't that be- no, never mind! Okay!"
Cinnamon grins tightly over her shoulder at Thorn, "Cramped, yes -- but we don't have enough parachutes, sorry!" She knows the import-export company doesn't ordinarily carry passengers, but rather just cargo. They gave the little Coblyn group a special deal, since they're fellow supernaturals -- they probably simply didn't think of the potential parachute issue since they have enough (ordinarily) for crew -- and one extra for just in case! Thorn gets a flat, unsurprised look when Cinnamon mentions that there aren't enough parachutes. Of... course there aren't enough.
Marcus, mostly cut off inside his box, already knows something isn't right due to the lurching and jouncing of the plane. However, having his little haven suddenly slapped open is startling -- he yelps in surprise! He freezes for a moment at Cinnamon's query, as his mind works through the possibilities: he's currently in the second-safest place he can be, all things considered. But being on Cinnamon's shoulder-harness is probably safer. After all, she's not likely to just drop out of the sky. He nods sharply and starts scrambling out of the box to let Thorn in, "Implicitly!"
Cinnamon holds up her hand to stop Marcus, "Nonono, you stay in too, please -- both of you!" She glances at Shane, adding, "Can you seal the box back up after them, please? I should go change!"
Thorn lets out a breath and nods, "Okay... sorry, Marcus, but, um, could you move your leg a bit? I think I can squeeze in just to the side...?" Marcus can't help but laugh as he rolls to his side, pushing over to make as much room for Thorn as possible. It's imperative to keep the healer safe, after all -- and if they're going down, in a padded box with the healer is as good a place as any to be! Thorn never went to parachute training, let alone paratrooper school -- he just never was considered for it. So he's not at all sure what to expect in the coming minutes. The box is snug and warm and dark. "Thanks, Marcus," the healer pants, once the top is sealed shut. "I appreciate this a lot! Though I don't know what she's planning."
Cinnamon watches for a second, then nods quickly once, turning to Shane, "Got this, Shaney?"
Shane is more than happy to seal the box -- he nods, "Got it, acushla. They'll be snug as two bugs in a rug!" Of course, Shane also tries to be... well, Shane... by objecting to having a parachute, insisting either Thorn or Marcus should have it. After all, he's going to be on Cinnamon's shoulder, which is the safest place to be... and him losing his footing is nearly unheard-of!
Cinnamon shakes her head vehemently, shout-speaking over the increasingly erratic roar of the plane, "No, asthore! I don't mean to be mean -- but I know you're going to be climbing up onto my shoulders after I've grabbed the plane, 'cause I'll have to jump out before changing so I don't damage the plane -- and that's fine! But I'm sorry -- if you get swept off by the wind or something while you're doing that? -and you don't have a parachute? -- I am absolutely dropping the plane to go dive after you!"
The copilot snorts at that, shoving a headset and a parachute into Shane's arms; he starts strapping into them both, moving with an almost military precision as the captain shout-explains to Cinnamon that the half-beansidhe will have the benefit of the plane's instruments (via headset) on finding a good landing place, "We'll be able to get that to your fella here with the headset. If we can't find a safe landing space..." he takes a deep breath, "we'll abandon the plane. Do you have plans on what you'll do with your friends in the apparently-not-waterproof crate there?"
Cinnamon nods to the captain as she buttons her glasses firmly into a pocket, "I'll tear it free of the plane -- so if that happens, you and your crew should really grab on tight to the box and I'll carry everyone down, okay?" The captain nods, then shouts orders for people to grab onto the straps of the box -- and to also use some cargo straps with carabineers to help strap themselves on securely. Everyone scrambles to get parachutes on, and themselves strapped into place -- and Cinnamon gets Shane and the captain to hang on tight to something as well. Then the captain hits the releases for the smaller emergency exit door, that Cinnamon is leaning against -- and she shrieks in shock as (as expected) she falls out of the plane! A dizzying heartbeat later, though, she shakes her head clear and shifts shape -- and abruptly, the wind's disorienting roar and blinding buffeting change into a far more comprehensible environment for her! She laughs happily, tilting around in a tight whirl so she can flap hard and rise above the laboring plane... then swiftly drops down enough to carefully latch onto the tail. There are a few jolts and screeches of metal as she figures out what's a strut and safe to grab, and what's not -- but a few seconds later she's feeling rather proud of herself! Got the plane in a good grip with all four clawed paws, flapping hard... now to even off... there we go, that looks more level! Shane can check her harness instrumentation too, once he's there -- and that should help even more!
Thorn definitely feels the jostling and bouncing as the plane struggles to maintain height! He closes his eyes, swallowing and murmuring, "Marcus... I apologize in advance if I get airsick!" He really hopes he doesn't! He might... but if/until then, it might lighten the mood a little -- especially as the plane finally, thank goodness, starts to settle and even out... feeling like it's maybe flying straighter and smoother.
Marcus actually laughs! He has to reach around Thorn, murmuring an apology, to find an airsick bag and hand it to the other man. They're close enough that it might have felt like an embrace if there was any chemistry there, "They made sure this thing was stocked for any eventuality." The laugh is a little strained, but there's a tiny bit of actual amusement in his voice, "By the way, never, ever climb into an enclosed space and think 'What's the worst that could happen?'"
Thorn blinks in surprise as Marcus manages to neatly put an airsick bag into his hand, in the dark, by sense alone. He realizes the main reason they're both calm and actually cracking quips, is that it's Cinnamon whose hands -- er, talons? -- they're safely in. He laughs softly, "Definitely will remember not to think that!"
As Cinnamon is securely latching herself onto the plane, it lurches a bit -- and Shane's eyes widen as he feels himself lurching with it -- he nearly lost his footing! He swears sulfurously as he realizes: he's earth-attuned! His preternaturally good balance is at least partially due to that... some of it is simply his beansidhe heritage, but a large part is also the fact that the Earth 'likes' him. That might actually be a problem, this high up! Still, once the plane levels off, he uses his grace and determination to get out and upwards, then strapped securely in on his acushla's wide shoulder harness. Cinnamon watches carefully, her eyes narrowed in worry as Shane clambers carefully hand over hand towards, then onto her, the wind buffeting him and yanking at his clothes and hair... but then she grins with relief as he settles into place. As he's buckling in, she shout-speaks over her shoulder to him, "When you're ready, let me know if I'm level or not... and then we can aim where the captain wants, okay?"
Shane nods and signs that he understands, then checks the instrumentation, letting both Cinnamon and the captain know it shows them level. The captain replies that the plane's showing the same, but they're starting to have more mechanical issues. He gives directions on where to steer, to reach a safe spot to bring the massive plane down. Cinnamon nods when those directions are passed on to her, then slowly and carefully begins tilting... as she gently, cautiously redirects the plane. Once the captain, via Shane, lets the scarlet dragon know the plane's nose is aimed correctly, Cinnamon beams! -- and continues beating her wings powerfully and assisting the engines in driving the plane forward... towards safety.
Fortunately for everyone, while the plane's engines end up either conking out, or struggling to work at all, the sturdy old plane itself holds together quite well while in flight within Cinnamon's strong, clawed paws -- despite having a dragon clutching onto it for lift and forward thrust! With the captain's and Shane's guidance, Cinnamon successfully directs the plane over and onto a safe landing field. Further, even though the plane's structural integrity starts to creak badly as she brings it down, the sturdy old prop plane makes the landing in just one slightly damaged piece -- and, importantly, while the crate gets a bit bashed about -- it doesn't crack at all! Also -- as the entire relieved and grateful crew tell Cinnamon later, once they all shakily exit (crate and all!): any landing you can walk away from is a very, very good landing!

Back at the Residence, Baird mutters, "They're not wrong, but neither are they exactly right." He glances from Thorn to Marcus, asking almost teasingly, "Was it comfy inside the box? Seven minutes in heaven and all? Or was it hell?"

Marcus laughs quietly, "Even I know that game, Baird. Nothing of the sort happened. We made jokes about getting airsick and not jinxing yourself." He's lounging almost lazily, "Besides, I'm relatively sure I'm not Thorn's type."

Cinnamon giggles at that, turning a little pink! Thorn laughs quietly at Marcus's comment. "Fortunately I didn't hurl!" he adds. "That would have made the time a little more tense."

Shane clears his throat, "I did have a word with Sparrow afterward, about the co-pilot that was a bit... dismissive." He thinks, [Rude as fuck is more like it.] "He wasn't happy about that -- at all! Neither, apparently, was the captain. I don't know what kinds of consequences it brought, though."

Cinnamon blinks up at Shane... then turns a little pink again, "Awww! That was sweet of you, Shaney!" She beams, bumping him gently with her shoulder.

This is the first Thorn has heard about the copilot being dismissive of Cinnamon! "I hope she was apologetic once we were brought safely to the ground...?"

Shane smirks, "No, she was a bit snooty about it. I think she was upset that she was proved so very wrong." He shakes his head and shrugs, "I just don't get some people."

Cinnamon grins shyly -- she hadn't really cared about the copilot, since she'd been getting really nice -- and relieved! -- hugs, handshakes, and (startlingly, to her) backslaps of thanks and congratulations from everyone else! A moment later, though, she blinks again, "Oh! That reminds me: peeps, how're things with the three bigot brothers?! Did Russel being gay give Brynn a way to help him see how bad those beliefs are?" She grins hopefully at her friends, "Did the families and enclaves of the lost supernaturals receive the money okay? Have the recorded confessions been sent to the human police yet, and are the brothers now in trouble there too?"

Apparently the conversations between Brynn and Russel are still on-going, as Russel's internalized homophobia is proving difficult to work through. The confessions have been sent -- which means the other two are in quite a lot of trouble! It seems Brynn wants to keep Russel out of the eye of the human police, though, until the spiritual psychologist is (hopefully) able to get to a breakthrough. Cinnamon looks a bit confused, "Sooo... wait. Are you saying the younger two brothers were released?"

Baird shakes his head, "No. They've made their way onto the most-wanted list, though."

"Oh, whew!" Cinnamon grins at Baird, then curiously adds, "Why not send Russel's confessions too, though... since first, he can't be found by the human police, and second... his brothers' confessions kinda implicate him too, after all -- since they were his support for the murders he committed?"

Baird shrugs, "You'd have to ask Brynn that. It was his request." Cinnamon nods slowly, her expression a bit perplexed... but after mentally tabling that thought, she grins hopefully at Spice, who managed the money for dispersal.

Spice grins smugly, "All the fuckin' money's either dispersed or invested, bosslady! -an' yeah, I took the money for the rez out -- it's in an account at the Vault -- so Kestrel and Sparrow can figure out what th' hell they're gonna do with it to make a fuckin' credit union. Janet... heh..."

She arches a brow at Shane, who grins, "According to Mum, she's invested most of it." He leaves out that what she's done is start a trust for 'My future grandchildren. You are going to try to give me grandchildren, yes?' It had been a teasing question because Janet would never push... but she knows how smitten Shane is -- and that he'd love to have children of his own! "She did donate about $50,000 to a local women's shelter."

Cinnamon brightens, "Oh, wow -- what a great idea!" Thorn, for his part, invested the money into a trust fund. He... finds himself remarkably unimaginative when it comes to what he would like to get! After further discussion, it comes out that Iason apparently used the money for the Infirmary to buy some land outside the enclave to grow healing plants, while Kyesha and Adiratna are putting the money to excellent use -- and are both absolutely thrilled! The college fund, too, is doing well, with the elders very happy and feeling more confident about their communities' futures.

Baird, like Janet, has mostly invested his, "After upgrading a bit of equipment..."

Keiko smiles indulgently, "He was like a small child in a candy store."

Cinnamon giggles at Keiko's comment -- then eagerly asks Baird, "So did the brothers' safe houses and weapons depot get cleaned out okay too, then?" She blushes a bit as she hesitantly adds, "Is, umm... is... I-Iliya maybe not... quite so... so upset with me now?"

Baird rolls his eyes, "Iliya can be an idiot. He is no longer being a jerk about you. You saved his ass -- and the rest of him -- but you also startled and scared him. The safehouses and weapons caches were cleared out. The weapons were really good, so I'm working on getting someone to clean up the registrations and serial numbers." Cinnamon nods at that, somewhat relieved.

Jaeger mentions Caradog hasn't said anything... yet. But the elder elf also assures Cinnamon that Caradog tends to show thanks in tangible, rather than spoken or written, ways. Brynn... well, Brynn hasn't said anything yet, either. But he tends to like to do things face-to-face. Cinnamon brightens at that news, thanking Jaeger, and then happily adds, "I actually wanted to go talk to Brynn sometime, so... that hopefully works out perfectly!" She grins, "Also, it just hit me on the flight home -- my first anniversary of dragoning is coming up this month! I thought it might be fun to have a celebration party..." She pauses, realizing the anniversary is also of Liam's tragic and pointless death... so after a moment's thought she adds more quietly, "-for my arrival on Coblyn Street." She makes a mental note, though: she will absolutely go spend the day of Liam's death with Rebecca, her dear step-great-grandmother! Maybe she can talk Shane into coming along... and maybe Elias and/or Thorny too? For now, the little dragon quickly changes the subject, turning to Jaeger and Elias, "So, did the relevant enclaves get money too?"

Shane wraps his arm around Cinnamon and pulls her close, ducking his head down to kiss her quickly and murmur, "I think a party sounds amazing... because it also celebrates the first day I met the love of my life." He winks playfully at her -- and sees Marcus flush out of the corner of his eye. She blushes hotly -- at both the lovely kiss and her startled squeak!

Elias nods at the question, answering for himself and Jaeger, "Yes. They're both using it to heighten their defenses."

Cinnamon's still quite pink as she stutters to Elias, "Oh! Oh, g-g- y-yeah, that's good!"

Thorn smiles quietly at Cinnamon's blush, and nods to Elias. After a moment, he says amusedly, "I think the next council meeting is going to be a little... energetic... about the news of this network."

Cinnamon grins wryly, snuggling a bit shyly against Shane, "Ahh... y-yeah, it likely will be, umm... contentious?" She sighs and smiles, "I have a humongous ton of receipts, if nothing else!"

Elsewhere... Veles has been traveling, and hearing about the successes of Cinnamon and her crew, of which -- he realizes with pride -- he is an integral part! News will continue to spread, he's quite sure -- though it may be slow going since the Nusantarans are a bit isolated still. Maybe it might spread out through the Oceania supernaturals as well? The siren they worked with let them know, after all, there are a couple of underwater enclaves -- though they don't tend to be as expansive as the landlocked ones. Once the news jumps onto one of the larger continents, however, Veles is quite sure it's going to spread like wildfire.

Back on Coblyn, the news of the extremely successful return of the little group also spreads like wildfire! Cinnamon is very happy with how well people seem to think of her -- though she completely misses that a small part of that is also admiration at how much more... more glowingly attractive and solidly grounded in herself she seems to be. The little dragon makes a point of checking in on a few specific folks and things, as well: she's delighted, when speaking with Tre, to hear how well the little rickshaw business is doing! She thanks Sparrow for both giving her and Spice the contact information for the supernatural-owned import/export business... and grins mischievously as she also thanks him for giving permanent bad luck to the cruel and bigoted sponsors of the three brothers! Later, and in private, she invites Shane, Thorn, and Elias to come with her to be with Rebecca during the anniversary of Liam's death... and she sends out cheerful invitations to all her dear friends to her intended party to celebrate the one year anniversary of her arrival on Coblyn Street. She also checks her office, to see if any letters have arrived that need her attention... and later, quietly, she asks Elias: did he get to spend any time talking with Rebecca in the last month, while the great Nusantaran adventure was on-going? He did, and he smilingly thanks her -- and gently teases her -- about 'setting them up' like that. She blushes hotly, but is very pleased!

Soon, back in Nusantara, Veles also starts hearing back from across South and North America about Cinnamon, as well as Thorn, Shane, and so on... from people that haven't even met them yet! Further, they're not calling Cinnamon just a councilor -- but rather referring to her as the 13th Chair. This is going much better than expected, the ex-merc thinks with pleasure! There aren't many requests for help coming in yet, but Veles thinks that might be more due to the fact that there hasn't been a true 13th Chair for so long... and also, it's possible Liam's territories are feeling a bit unsettled, now they may be handed off to other councilors.

On Coblyn, Sparrow too is amused folks in his territories are starting to whisper about the little dragon that's the 13th Chair! He grins when he finds Cinnamon one day, "You're a fuckin' legend, darlin'."

Cinnamon blinks puzzledly at Sparrow, pushing her glasses up, "Excuse me?" She thinks about that... then grins uncertainly, "Isn't it Coyote that's the legend?"

Sparrow laughs, "Nah, I'm a goddamn fact! I mean people are talkin' about what you did for the Nusantarans. Been a while since there was a 13th Chair. Some of the folks that were Liam's... and are now yours... I think they're wonderin' who their councilor will be."

Cinnamon blinks a bit puzzledly again, "But, umm... it's... just me? I mean, I'm their councilor?" She pauses, then confusedly adds, "Wait, Liam wasn't gone that long before my arrival... was he?"

Sparrow shakes his head, "No. But he took on his own territories. To be a true 13th Chair, darlin', you have to be neutral."

Cinnamon considers that for a bit... then replies pragmatically, "I think I am? I mean, if some of, say, Killa's folks turned up today and asked for my help, they'd get it -- you know that! I'd probably try first to get Daniella to get Killa to help, but if he insisted on... on survival of the fittest, or some silliness like that? I'd just go help... same as I did with the Nusantarans." She grins excitedly as she adds, "Though I admit, I'm kinda hoping I get to do something in Southern Europe, with Shane and Thorny and Marcus -- so the folks there can see how much Dak- er, M-Marcus has changed -- for the better!"

Sparrow says quietly, "But who would your people go to if they felt they needed intervention? I'm not saying they would, but what if they did?"

Cinnamon smiles thoughtfully, "Me, I hope! My real goal here, though, isn't to just hand off the territories I'm covering... it's to show them alternatives to me -- like I mentioned with Marcus, right? So if the southern Europeans can see how nice and helpful he is now, maybe they'll ask me to please return to him!" She adds with the cheerful openness of someone with nothing to hide, "I'd like to take Josie along next time I'm in Greenland too... and how do you feel about cold, please? Though..." her small smile is a little wistful, "I... kinda do hope I get to keep Oceania. I'm trying really hard with the islanders and the whales!"

Sparrow arches a brow, "Ever been in South Dakota in the wintertime? You realize the Lakota are up there, right? That's why so many indigenous charities talk about firewood for grandma." He squeezes her shoulder gently, "I hear ya, darlin'."

Cinnamon laughs and shakes her head, "Nono, I mean further north -- up in the Arctic circle! I'd like to take you up there sometime, so they can meet both of us. Though..." she absently nibbles on her lower lip, then checks, "do you know if they have a trickster spirit up there? Or is it just too darned cold and dangerous for that?" She brightens, "Then again, even if they don't have a Trickster, you've told me that your tricks are for folks who're humorless and cruel about it, right? So you shouldn't have any reason to trick a people that are just really carefully focused on survival -- so that should be fine. Yay!" She beams up at Sparrow, "So, what do you think?"

Sparrow grins, "Again, ever been to South Dakota?" He clears his throat and sings in a warm, pleasant voice, "Ain't nothing 'tween the pole and South Dakota / And barbed wire don't stop the wind..." He adds in explanation, "It's almost an arctic wasteland in the winter. I'm good with Greenland. Been there a few times. Be happy to go back."

Cinnamon listens with a smile... then curiously asks, "So how is South Dakota colder than North Dakota, then? Er... is that what you meant?"

Sparrow shakes his head, "They're both frigid as the center circle of Hell in the winter."

Cinnamon nods more confidently, "Ah! Gotcha... hm. I wonder if that's part of why South Dakota allows such financial chicanery... so they can make money at something?" She thinks about that... but then just grins and shrugs, "Guess it doesn't matter, really! But yeah -- if either of us have a trip scheduled for up thataways, let's agree to make sure the other goes too, okay? So we can try and start them thinking about asking you to represent them, right?"

Sparrow sighs, "Sadly, they've been fucked over in a lot of ways. Lotta the native and the white ranchers both lose cattle in the winter... and the pipelines poison the land."

Cinnamon considers that for a bit... then nods slowly, "Then... yeah -- especially if you have any ideas on how to help folks out there -- let's get them thinking about you as their councilor."

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Last modified: 2019-Jun-12 19:53:32

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