Waiting For Rain IC: Spring Slowly Comes

[BlasTech]

"You don't know the half of it." Isabelle snorted, fresh from the hedge didn't even begin to describe them. "What do you mean every 'court' needs a harvest guy? What for?"

[Thanqol]

"Ah, local government one-oh-one. See, back in the day some Changelings made a bunch of deals with the seasons for them to protect us against the Gentry. Big complicated phone book worth of contracts written into the stars, you know how it goes. If you want a piece of that protection you've got to swear yourself to a Season, which makes you a part of that season's court. A court is all the followers of the same season in the same vague geographic area.

"And a harvest guy is someone who specialises in gathering glamour from the masses, who can then pass it around to the other members of his court. Not everyone has the time or the stomach to go out and terrorise muggles every day, y'know? Leave it to the guy who can do it efficiently."

[Deadly]

Charlene followed Jon. She still felt on edge in here, but sometimes things needed to be done. She kept to the back and stayed silent for now, since she saw no reason to interrupt anything.

[BlasTech]

"Well that explains the 'farm' thing you were saying earlier." Isabelle continued, waving Charlene and Jon over to the chairs nearby. The idea of seasonal courts made sense. After all, she'd just felt some fo the power that Spring could provide a changeling when called on.

"What can you tell us about these courts? The people who run them? You make them sound organised."

[Thanqol]

"Heh. I wouldn't really call anyone in this town capable of coherent organisation. Each court is a season and each season is an emotion; Spring for joy, Summer for wrath, Autumn for fear and Winter for sorrow. You can technically join whichever court you want but you can't really lie to the Seasons so if you're an angry bastard who tries to join Winter for the connections you're not going to get very far.

"Each Court has a Prince, the bloke most favoured by their season and who is marked by the season's Crown. When that season is in ascent that Prince gets to run the city and set the rules for all the changelings in the area. Since it's Spring now, that means Talmage, the Spring Prince is currently in charge. He got bitten by a radioactive party when he was in Arcadia and he's obnoxiously happy as a result. When Summer rolls around we'll all have to put up with Gabriel Pope. Little snot thinks he's going to conquer the world and set it right. Grammy Snaps is the Autumn Princess, bless her soul. And when winter rolls around you might want to think about migrating south because that's when Matthew Vickrum gets to be in charge and he's a right ponce."

There was a faint British accent that was more noticeable in Hans' voice the longer he talked, slipping through the rasp. The more relaxed he became the less insane he seemed to be.

[the_druid_droid]

Jon was on the verge of asking Hans a question when he heard the other Changeling mention the Courts. For a moment, his purpose flickered, and he sat down at the table, trying to find out about the prince he’d been told to seek out and the whole system of government that Keith had told him about. When Hans began describing the rulers’ personalities, Jon leaned forward intently, hoping that the Spring prince would be not only happy, but sympathetic.

[BlasTech]

"Sounds like a nice, stable bunch of individuals to have running the place." Isabelle deadpanned. "So Spring is in charge now ... what kind of 'rules' has he put in place? Anything we need to watch out for, being new in town?"

[the_druid_droid]

Jon nodded along with Isabelle’s questions about the Spring prince. “And what sort of person is he? I mean, would it be a good idea to talk with him now that we’ve come back, or should we avoid him? You can probably guess that we don’t have much to our names right now, and well, we could use some help if he's likely to lend it.”

[Thanqol]

"Heh. Talmage is notable for having only two rules while he's in charge. One: Don't kill anyone, don't try to kill anyone, just avoid the whole murder thing entirely. Two: You have to experience true joy at least once during his reign or your ass gets banished," Hans laughed, "The easiest and the hardest set of rules of any of the princes, innit?

"And as to what he's like, well. Let's just say he never lets a day go to waste. Honestly, he's probably the one guy in this whole town who'll have your back no matter what, rules one and two excepted."

[Deadly]

"How would he know if you've experienced true joy or not? Must be equally hard to enforce such a rule." Charlene wondered out loud. Somehow she imagined inquisitions and people thrown into a lakes to see if they float. "And how is one banished?"

[Thanqol]

"He's got a contract that lets him know?" Hans shrugged, "And one's banished by him saying that you're not welcome in the city any more and sending the Sheriff to escort you to the exit. I guess. I've never actually seen it come up."

[BlasTech]

Which meant that either it was unenforcable, or that Talmage was just good at keeping things under wraps. The former fit more with the image Isabelle was begining to form of the guy. It was interesting, though, that Hans seemed to follow that decree. Maybe he thought it was just less hassle than not.

"What about the other Princes? What kind of rules did they have last time their seasons were ascendant? What can we have to look forward to when they roll around again?"

[Thanqol]

"They'd take more time then I'd care to spend talking about, generally got some cause or another that they try and see through. Really, be thankful for Spring and Fall because they're the moments when this city can have some measure of peace." Hans shrugged.

[the_druid_droid]

Hans’ description of the Spring prince was somewhat reassuring, even if the conditions of his rule seemed a little odd. Maybe now that they had a second opinion that was mostly positive, Jon could prevail on the others to go visit Talmage after all.

“So, what do Changelings do once they come back? I mean, since the fetch is living for them now...” Jon’s curiosity had overcome his initial aversion to the toy soldier, and he wanted as much advice as he could get - it might be the only thing that kept them from hunger and more homeless wandering.

[Thanqol]

"I dunno. It's a free country." Hans smirked, "Mope. Party. Become a psychopath, or a super hero. Play politics or practise banality. Some kill their Fetches and try and take their life back. Some have, heh, more creative solutions to that problem." He laughed to himself, "Take your pick."

[BlasTech]

Isabelle quirked an eyebrow, it sounded like there might have been a story there but more immediate concerns directed her next query.

"Okay, so the courts can make laws and offer some protections. What else do they do? I mean, beyond getting people to harvest glamour on their behalf. A guy we met before seemed to think they can give new changelings a quick start on their return ... but I can't help think he might have oversold it a bit, or at least forgotten to mention what the court gets out of the bargain."

[Thanqol]

"These aren't really political organisations with agendas. As far as this town goes, your court is the ten to twenty odd people who'll be in your corner if it comes down to the wire. Summer goes out and does combat training, paintball games and stuff, on Amy Acre's farm. Fall meets up in Grammy Snaps' manor and we compare notes and have conversations. You're probably better served by focusing on the individuals because the courts more like clubs than structured organisations.

"Talmage will help you find your feet because he's just that kind of guy. If you'd shown up in Summer, Pope would have helped you because he wants bodies on his side if it ever comes to a fight.

"Oh, right, one other thing. Some folk chose to Pledge themselves to serve the reigning Prince, whoever that is, full time. There's meant to be one for each season - a Herald for Spring, Sheriff for Summer, Magistrate for Fall and Secretary for Winter - but the Herald spot has been empty for a while. Powerful pledges, those."

[the_druid_droid]

Jon’s sense of relief continued to grow as he found out more about the Spring prince, and hope for something like a resolution of their current situation appeared much more likely than it had that morning. Still, something was bothering him.

“I appreciate the explanation of the Courts, but can I ask you a question?” Jon looked at Hans as steadily as he could, although he had silently begun to wonder why he was even making the effort; this probably wouldn't be helpful.

[Thanqol]

"Go ahead," Hans said, flicking his cigarette butt off to the side.

[BlasTech]

Isabelle sat back in her chair as she waited for Jon to continue, wondering where he was going with this.

[the_druid_droid]

“So I get that you’re scaring these people as part of some sort of magic deal for one of the Courts - I didn’t hear everything, but I get the idea... My question is: Why fear? Surely there are more emotions in the world than just that one, and if raw emotion is all you need, why choose to terrorize these people to the point that some of them can’t even bring themselves to show their faces in here?” Jon was equal parts curious and angry about Hans’ tactics, but from the snatches he’d overheard of Isabelle’s earlier conversation, it seemed likely that the toy solider would just laugh at his indignation, which only left him curiosity to work with...

[Thanqol]

"Think about it, kid. The options are fear, wrath, sorrow and joy. You need it powerful and plentiful and reliable. Tell me an ethical and convenient way to get access to that, and then I'll tell you that I don't care. I got no I.D., no family, no money and I'm in the wrong god-damn country. But when I got here, no one else cared about these people, no one wanted them, and now you posers only want them because I've got them. Who the hell are you to question me? How many beggars have you walked past on the street?"

Hans' speech got a less coherent and more angry as he went on. Like a rant that had been building up, rehearsed, inside his own head and finally, clumsily expressing itself.

"You haven't done jack for these people. You don't know jack about these people. You don't know jack about me. Who the hell do you think you are, coming down here full of god-damn self righteousness? You're goddamn tourists. Get the hell out of here."

[BlasTech]

The surprise of Hans' outburst rocked Isabelle backwards on her chair for a moment. Only once all four legs had returned to the ground, did she speak again, hands upraised in a placating gesture.

"Woah, take it easy Hans. He's only asking a question, isn't he?" She said, the last part directed towards Jon.

"You're right, we don't jack about what's going on because we only just escaped the hedge. I know that, why do you think I wanted to talk to you first?"

"Please, we're not tourists, at least my friends aren't. This is their home town and they've just found out that they can't go home. If you can just tell us a bit more, about the lay of the land and how to find our feet, we can get out of your way without any need for a fuss today."

[Deadly]

Charlene's eyes followed the trajectory of the cigarette butt without really noticing, but the sudden change in mood brought her attention back to Hans and the others. She gave an agreeing nod at Isabelle's words. It looked like getting Hans to agree on letting these people off the hook even for a brief time would get them nowhere, at least not directly. Hopefully they could work out another way to help them. "We just want to find our place around here."

[Thanqol]

"Yeah. Great. Look, kids, go talk to the Prince, it's literally his job to help you people out. I've finally found my own place after more than my share of searching and I'm not taking too kindly to the judgement of strangers." Hans said, sitting back and rubbing his temples, grotesque painted-smile still in place.

[BlasTech]

"Okay okay." Isabelle sighed, rising to her feet. "Before we go though, can I ask one last question?"

[Thanqol]

"Yeah? What?" Hans grumbled.

[BlasTech]

"You said you have no home, no ID ... no job." Isabelle said slowly, picking at the table with a fingernail. "If it's this spring guy's job to help people like us out, why didn't he help you?"

[Thanqol]

There was a bit of a silence. Then Hans said - grumbled, justified, "Because I found a place for myself here and I like it. I don't need his help."

[the_druid_droid]

Hans’ outburst was surprising and confusing for Jon: he was still angry, but at the same time, the homeless Changeling seemed to care about the people here, in his own twisted way...

Still, the fear bothered Jon - the emotions in this place were powerful, and good for whatever ‘harvesting’ Hans needed to do, no doubt - but he had spent years running and skulking through the woods in fear. It was a fate he wouldn’t wish on anyone, least of all the people here that had already been kicked around by the world. Something in the whole setup just didn’t seem right, Court sanction or no. Of course, nothing had really seemed right since they’d arrived, and the consciousness of it was starting to wear on him.

Carefully, Jon stood up from his seat at the table, certain that he’d more or less worn out any welcome they might have had from Hans. He moved a few paces toward the door, hoping his friends would take the hint; maybe he could finally convince them to go see Talmage, and maybe for a little while people would stop shouting at them, or trying to arrest them, or threatening to grind up their bones...