Trimming the Hedge

Today was the day. Aristophanes paced back and forth in the lobby of the Four Seasons Hotel. To mortal eyes, he looked like a tall, well-dressed man in crisp, gray slacks, a white linen shirt and a hazy blue vest. To the changelings who would be arriving, he looked quite different. The pants were more worn and rugged looking, as was the shirt. They appeared sturdier than the Mask would imply, but provided little protective value. The vest, on the other hand, was something altogether different to the eyes of the Lost. His chest was encased in a deep blue breastplate, contrasting with the pale blue of his skin. In the pocket of his pants, he carried a switchblade -- if it weren't for the plain humans around, he'd probably be playing with it nervously, but he did not want to attract undue attention.

All he could do now was wait for the others to show up; he knew of at least one person who had responded on the board at Edna's, and he hoped others would come as well. There was strength (and safety) in numbers, and if anything were amiss, the more the merrier.

Aristophanes shakes his fellow Fairest's hand. "There's no harm in preparation, friend; there's no telling what might be out there, should we find a way in."

That was an important point -- finding a trod into the Hedge. The Bright One had come bursting from the Sacramento River all those months ago, but he was reticent to try heading into the Hedge by that particular route. He had his methods though, so Aristophanes was not worried about failure.

"What might your name be?"

Aristophanes takes a moment to focus his Wyrd, the surge of Glamour filling him as it is spent, waiting to see what he can divine about the local Hedge.

"Nice to meet you, Brandon, I am indeed Aristophanes. I'm going in for two reasons: to make sure there is nothing lurking within the Hedge that poses an immediate danger to the Freehold, and secondly to perhaps harvest some goblin fruits. Anyone else coming is free to pursue their own agenda, provided we all stay together -- it wouldn't do to have one of our own lost out there. Your hatchets should help nicely either way though, that's good thinking."

He pauses a moment, concentrating again. "We might have to hike a bit about the city once everyone else gets here. There are some Hollows here in the hotel, but no trods. I expected as much, but I figured this would be a good place to meet. Hope you don't mind walking too much."

Aristophanes shrugs a bit. "There are at least two others who said they would come under my original notice. Not sure if there will be anyone else."

Turning to Tiffany, he speaks icily. "If wandering blindly is what it takes to discover a threat to the Lost of our city, then that is exactly what I intend to do."

Aristophanes' blue cheeks begin to flush a violent white at the woman's questioning, and his injured pride only fuels his irritation. "It is the duty of the Summer Court to find and uproot any potential threats; this is quite clearly my place. While I do not know where to find a place of safe entry, I have my contracts, and they have served, and will continue to serve me well in my endeavors!"

Hearing Brandon's remarks, he adds quietly, "Thank you, Brandon."

The fog seems to become more and more dense as she stands there, still almost hovering above the ground. "And yet you have no idea with whom you speak now?" She raises a hand, and with a gut-wrenching sound to accompany it, Aristophanes becomes a white rabbit. She picks him up, and tosses him out into a chair, where he instantly reappears as himself. Her very presence seems to impose itself upon the room as the fog crackles and shudders.

"I am the Court Vizier, and you would do well to heed these words. Sovereign General Kavrol does not look kindly upon those who would blindly seek out threads and lead them to our peaceful existence. If you wish to continue your trek, either do so blindly, and seek his wrath, or look for the Arch."



As the last word is spoken, a gust of wind flies through the room, and Tiffany is gone, the fog and shadow lost with her.

Betony Rue enters the hotel lobby. She is weariung tired jeans that look to have been patched many times, an apron made of thick cloth, a button up blouse and shawl wrapped close round her neck like a scarf. She carries a large woven tote bag, that looks mostly empty.
Betony feels a little uncomfortable in the clothes as they aren't her usual attire but the Thorns snagged skirts with a vengence, so something more practical was needed.
She moves to Aristophanes and Brandon with a fast step, which falters as with the transformation of the "Bright One". She glances around the lobby. Has anyone seen the blatant use of magic? With Aristophanes return to normal she continues forward.
"I am Betony Rue, I assume this is the nature expedition." It wasn't so much a question as a plain statement of assumption. "Are you alright?"

Though Betony's face remains its normal emotionless scowl and her voice is cold, when she looks at Brandon he can almost see the burning fires of dry leaves within her eyes.
I introduced myself so I could be refered to properly. You will do so.

Aristophanes stands and straightens his clothing. "I'm fine," he says a bit ruefully. It was damn stupid of him, speaking as he had, but he had never had business with the Court Vizier before. How was he supposed to know that it was her? Of course, this did not prevent the headstrong Fairest from thinking that she was a total bitch, it just meant he would have to watch how he spoke in the future.

He extends his hand to the Ogre. "You are correct though, this would be the meeting place for our expedition. I am Aristophanes; it is a pleasure to meet you, Betony Rue. I suppose we will be looking for the Arch soon enough, but perhaps we should wait a bit longer. I believe there is yet one more we are waiting on."

Nightfall wanders in, and approaches the others with a smile and a wave. Things seem oddly... tense. He's carrying a guitar case.

Mien: Nightfall, like any Fairest, has a Mien similar to his Mask. His ears have slight points, and his complexion is much lighter, almost bleached. His eyes seem almost radiant, and he has unusually thick wrists. His Mantle causes his breath to appear as if in the middle of Winter, and his footfalls sound like snow being crushed.

Raenette Roe walks into the lobby, wearing a pair of slashed, faded jeans over a more intact pair. A similar configuration of hoodys are draped about her upperhalf, through which a Walmart uniform and a namebadge for someone named 'Ronnie' are visible. She awkwardly carries something the shape and size of a baseball bat, swathed in plastic bags and gauze.

"Uh, 's one of you, 'Risto-fanes?"

Her gaze stays on Brandon for several seconds, as if almost wanting more of a confrontation, before switching to the Summer changeling.
She takes his hand as lightly as a dove, the hooks pricking and snagging at the skin.
"Of course. Tell me first, I want to know your purpose for entering the Hedge. You were rather vague in your advertisement."

As Raennette enters, Aristophanes responds, speaking both to her and to Nightfall, and all assembled. "Yes, that would be me. Welcome to everyone. We have gathered here today because we all share an interest in the Hedge, or at least I would assume so. My own interest lays primarily in gauging the safety of the trods of Sacramento, though I will also be searching for goblin fruits for harvesting. You all are welcome to do whatever you wish, provided we stick together and keep an eye on each others' backs. This is by no means a hunting party, but this is also not a picnic holiday, and we must all be on guard."

"Before we head to the Arch, where we will apparently be entering the Hedge,why don't we introduce ourselves? As I said, my name is Aristophanes, Summer courtier."

Aristophanes takes a moment to read the note. "Yes, that seems to be right. The Court Vizier was here before you came. She... saw fit to give us that much information."

Raenette leans on her bundled bat and sighs lazily as the light of green lines pulse faintly through her shirt.

"Well me? I just want some fruit. I'm Raenette. Roe. I don't have a court. I been wanting to see what it's like for a while now, but I don't really wanna go without others, y'know?

When the small Japanese woman asks her question, Aristophanes briefly considers giving a smart-ass answer, but remembering the last time he did that to someone who came from within the hotel rather than without, he thinks better of it.

"Nothing much, ma'am. We are preparing to leave on a little trip of sorts. If you are referring to the the noise earlier, you may have heard my, ah, introduction to the Vizier. We were just finishing our introductions, but we are done now. If you'd like to join us, you are more than welcome to."

The tall Fairest sighs quietly. "I'm sure we could find it alright on our own, but I suppose getting directions wouldn't hurt."

As much as he hated to admit it, Aristophanes was quickly realizing that he had prepared too much for battle and not enough for an actual trip into the Hedge. At least this woman seemed much nicer than that Vizier, seeing as Nightfall hadn't turned into a rabbit when she hugged him.

Betony Rue felt suddenly much less sure on whether this was a good idea. Aristophanes didn't seem to have planned much at all.
"No, we do not know where the Arch is. If you could direct us it would be appriciated."

Grobbler pops back into the Four Seasons, hoping to catch Mario but is taken aback when he sees the crowd gathered in the lobby.

"Uh... sorry. Is this one of the Spring dances or whatever?"

Frustrated with himself and with those around him, his Mantle seems to send off just a little more heat than normal as he replies to the new Ogre, his voice a little more curt than he means it to be.

"No, this isn't some Spring affair; we are trying to go on a Hedge expedition, though we seem to keep hitting damned snags in the road."

This was getting more frustrating. Were they going to have to stop and exchange social niceties for everyone they crossed paths with.
Trying to move things along she speaks to Aristophanes. "Let's seal the vow and go."

Grobbler dimly notices the hand offered him and gives it a rough shake. "Uh, hey." Jeez, those eyes are creepy. He doesn't give his name or say anything either. Grobbler turns back to the pouting Changelings, "I mean, you guys know how to do the knock, right? Unless you do something dumb, you probably won't get eaten."

Speaking to Grobbler, Aristophanes says, "Well I know that we won't get eaten," mentally adding unlike that damned Vizier, "but there is apparently a certain way it needs to be done, and unfortunately, I'm not sure where the place to go is."

Turning slightly to Rumiko, he says, "If you would be so kind, Miss... I'm sorry, I don't think I got your name. But if you would kindly point us in the right direction, it would be much appreciated, and do much toward alleviating my current frustration." With this last bit, the Bright One adds the barest flourish of a bow.

Now Grobbler isn't exactly the smartest guy around, but he's certainly not dumb either. Miss Rumiko Giggles McBubblington has got the most freaking intense Spring mantle I've ever seen - he glances quickly at the muted mantles of the other gathered changelings and adds - by far.

Is the Spring Queen just fucking with everyone? Just for yucks? These people look pissed as shit, and I'm sure she's known exactly what they want this whole time.

"Uh, hey your majesty. I'm uh, Grobbler. How's it going..."