Difference between revisions of "Log:Harvestmen Meeting"

11 March, 2017

The Captain of the Harvestmen, Jonah, has called a meeting for all Harvestmen and anyone with the hopes of joining. The primary discussion will be about the lack of a Hollow for the Harvestmen, and how best to fix this "problem." Any additional concerns or questions are also welcome along with presentation or announcements of any potential recruits. Part of Real Estate.

Stoneheart

The afternoon sun is well into the sky, but there's a fat lot of good Sol'll do for the folks of the microcosm. A sea of clouds block much of the sunlight from above, and down below it feels like it's freezing. The training areas of Stoneheart have been moved around despite their relative small size to the cave itself. Makeshift and hastily made seating has been made available, although it looks most of it can't hold too much weight much less that of the larger members of the Harvestmen. However, there are a few stools and seats of an odd, fanciful Grecian art style set here and there. At the front of it all is Jonah, standing with a glance and a nod to every attending Harvestmen. Despite the cold he's wearing a thin grey jacket, jeans, and is sans shoes.

In attendance are a dozen or so privates and a handful of the most recent batch of recruits. Hanging on the nearest walls are various maps of the hedge, likely familiar to the officers of the Harvestmen. Each of them has various markings and marks with nary a one without some form of writing or symbol to be found. Not much in the way of catering can be found save a pile of already cooked meat that's long since cooled and an opened up cask of some odd hedge-brew. There's bits of talking and whispering going on, but most of it comes to a stop as Jonah bellows, "Alright. Alright, folks. I think it's about time we get things started."

Paige wanders in, with jeans, a coat, and definitely shoes. In fact, she looks mildly shocked by Jonah's lack of footwear, judging by the look on her face and the direction of her gaze. She shakes her head but finds a stool to sit on. She's small, she'll fit easily. Once she's settled, cross-legged on the stool, she digs in her pocket, coming out with a bag of M&Ms, which she starts to lazily pop in her mouth, one by one, as she listens.

Dobson trundles into the Stoneheart with a soft curse for the piece of wall he just hit that wasn't looking out for his shoulder, mutting darkly and peering about with his one good eye. That eye flicks to Jonah and he offers a nod before it moves off to other things, most notably the seating. The dubious look is clear, and the Summer Ogre elects to stand rather than sit, propping himself against the wall and folding his massive arms over his barrel chest. And that is just where Jonah's call to order finds him. Relaxed and intent.

Byron ducks his head a little when he settles in, folding his arms over his chest as he finds a bit close to a wall to stand up and listen. Dressed in his usual blue sweats, he glances at each of the other faces with curiosity, but for the time being, keeps himself quiet while his attention returns to the Captain, to listen to the kickoff of festivities.

Rorschach waded in behind Byron. He wasn't much to look at, and really, was very easy to look over. The Darkling's hood was pulled up smashing his antennae a bit forward to poke out, and his beat-to-hell(tm) leather jacket was zipped up to trap what heat it could. While he wasn't thrilled about the cold, it also seemed he was no stranger to discomfort either. His worn combat boots picked out a silent path as he made use of Byron's size and hung back in his shadow; mantle desaturating the colour of anyhting he seemed to walk across for a short time. Bugs man. There was a glance around from behind the wlder's goggles, one eyebrow arching up, and an upnod in greeting.

When Jonah speaks plumes of warmth cloud around his face and accentuate the small beads of brilliance that twinkle in and out existance around him. "As each and everyone of ya know, we don't have a proper place to be us." To that, he spreads his arms out as if presenting the whole of Stoneheart to the already familiar. When his arms come back down he hooks his thumbs into his pockets. "Because of that our first, major course of action we'll be undertaking as a group is finding a place of our own. Be it some fortress, island in the sky, or a big enough hole in the wall that the the lieutenants and I don't have to duck."

Byron smiles a little at the last comment from Jonah, a soft 'heh' escaping the gargoyle and a muttered, "That would be nice..." but he falls quiet again after that. Rorschach gets a glance behind and a quiet thumbs up from where Byron stands as if in approval of the bug's chosen lurking spot. Paige's offer of candy at least has him leaning waaaaay over to pick a piece and mutters a thanks, before popping it into his mouth.

Rorschach tilted his head giving a nod to Jonah intidating attention. The candy came out though causing one antenna to twitch-twitch, and bring a glance to the bag. He bit his lip and contemplated that for a moment, still considering things at hand. At the mention of the finding his attention drifted back to glance the maps on the walls, leaning that way a bit. A hand came out of his pockets and rolled into a fist covered in a striped fingerless knit glove that gave Jonah a 'nod' in agreement.

Dobson maintains his position, holding up the wall like his life depends on it. His good eye, the one not swollen shut, swivels this way and that, examining and assessing each of the changelings that he may find himself working with in short order. Jonah's words about finding a home earn him a curious look from the Summer Ogre, but he offers no words of protest.

Jonah sighs, "Yeah. Nice might be an understatement." A hand's placed on Jonah's shoulder before he can get another word out. Standing to his side is man carrying himself like a king among peasants, head held high as he sneers at the majority of those gathered. Of the lot of them he could easily pass for human if it weren't for those long, pointed ears and black pits where his eyes should be. Jonah turns to look at the hand first, and then at the man before it's removed. "What, Yoric?" Yoric, as he's called, clears his throat. "Well, Captain Joseph, it might be best if just my squad and I went out to the east, and-"

Yoric is now cut off by Jonah as the much taller Ogre turns to look upon him. Jonah's voice rises, loud enough that he's damned near shouting at Yoric and still speaking to the gathered Harvestmen. "With that in mind we're going to start exploring all possiblities in full force. Yes, not just one squad or two, but as a whole unit. The full might that we can muster when needed. This isn't a game, nor a quest for glory." Then to Byron Jonah turns, presenting him to the crowd with a quick nod in their direction. "The first leg of this'll be led by Sto-" Beat. "Lieutenant Dees. We'll be starting to the east of the mountain, and going from there. Does anyone have any questions before I continue?"

Paige grins as Byron takes the candy, and she wiggles the bag in Ror's direction before munching on some herself and watching Jonah. Yoric has one of her brows arching, and okay, so maybe not the most mature thing ever, but she does stick her tongue out at him. Luckily she /is/ so small, so perhaps that goes unnoticed. "We hoping to find something abandoned, right?" she asks.

Byron straightens a little when he's addressed directly, though he shoots an odd look at Yorik for a moment before refocusing on Jonah. With the instructions given, he simply nods once and shifts his glance over the rest of the assembled group, watching for the questions, but not intending to answer unless Jonah doesn't.

The bug, gone urban tracker, shook his head once, silently watching the interplay and taking in the details. A hand reached up into teh shadows of the hood that swallowed the Brother's head untila mechanical pencil was pulled from, presumably behind an ear or... something. A notepad was produced from his back pocket and the scarecrow of a man scribbled on it and passed the note to Byron, electing him as a spokesperson, perhaps being closest in proximity or familiarity.

Dobson, it would seem, has no questions. He unfolds his massive arms to dig for something in his pockets and quickly produces a turnip of some size. Peeling his lips back in a rictus of pleasure reveals a few missing teeth, but that doesn't stop the ogre from taking a loud, munching bite of the vegetable as he waits for the need to do something.

The Fairest at the Captain's side looks to Byron as Paige questions come, Winter Mantle clear as day as it flairs with several dozen snow flakes begin to fall from his form. He turns away, moving to sit in an area of teh crowd that appears to be men and women focused solely on him. Jonah, for his part, looks over to Paige, nodding. "Abandoned or something living their doesn't matter to me if they can get gone. If we can't find that then it's finding a place to lay a foundation for us to build it our damned selves if need be. Since Dees'll be taking lead, any advice or instruction he gives, listen to it like your life depends on it because it just might. This won't be easy nor fun, but it'll be well worth it for a place to call our own."

Paige cocks her head. "Won't argue that it will be easy, because it's the hedge, but it could be fun. I mean c'mon!" she says, flinging her arms outward, and somehow managing /not/ to spill any candy. "We're finding a /home/ for ourselves. Though okay, maybe exciting more than fun. But it shouldn't be a chore because this is a good thing." She looks over to Byron then. "For the record, I prefer abandoned or building," she tells him with a smile.

Byron nods slowly at the pronouncement of something abandoned, clearing his throat, "If the only thing we can find is something already claimed, then we'll have to decide if it's something we can take with what we have. Plenty of things in the Hedge that will laugh at even a handful of us, and thank us for delivering lunch to its doorstep." He glances down at Rors' note and taps one particular word on it and nods at him.

Rorschach stretched scarred lips into a wry grin. There was a nod, pleased, at teh mention of the target being an abandoned dwelling. Fingers came out and made a few gestures. It culminated in him tapping his temple ont he outside of the hood and pointing to the HBiC speaking. He was on board. Apparently something of a comfortable taske in his wheelhouse at the very least. He glanced back to the note and nodded to Byron who apparently answered his one query, reread the note, and nodded again. No more questions.

A couple more noisy bites of turnip makes quick work of the little snack, and Dobon licks a thick finger before wiping it on his trousers. Then, that ham of a hand rises into the air. He doesn't wait to be called on, but speaks, his voice like a landslide, rough, heavy and full of gravel. "I don't know any of you. I'm Dobson Desrochers, of the Summer Court. Though my family is from here, I grew up elsewhere." The pacing of his speach is slow and inexorable, like a lava flow. "I broke free about six months ago. And I reckon that is about the least that any of you should expect to know about me if we're gonna be brothers and sisters in arms. I mean, home is nice and all, but let's not put the cart before the whores." And with that, he lets his arm fall back down to his side, patting his pockets in the hopes that there is more food there he's forgotten.

Jonah had his mouth open to say something, but he's once again cut off by the Fairest and the whole of his squad looking up to him. "With all due respect," comes the course, nasally voice from Yoric. "Dees-" "Lieutenant!" Jonah all but barks back. "Lieutenant Dees isn't fit for such command. We know the layout of the lands outside the trods better than anyone else, and-" Jonah's ire is only growing further as he places his face into the palm of his hands, gaze cast low.

"Yoric, I swear if you interrupt me, Dees, or anyone else again you're gonna need a lot more than some fruit to put you back together again." After a pained sigh, Jonah steps back and moves to stand among the crowd. He looks over to Dobson, taking not of him fully and nodding. "The floor is yours, Dees. Anything particular or important to note about the lay of the land, or hobs around Singing Sky?"

"That's not the reason I'd prefer abandoned," Paige admits to Byron. "Like, if we find a group of peaceful hobs, what right do we have to shunt 'em out of their home? Actually, can't say I'd be a part of evicting innocent people. Now if it's some jackass who's dangerous to the freehold? Yeah, all for kicking ass and sticking a flag in the place." But Yoric speaks, and her brow furrows, and it suddenly gets a wee bit warmer around her. Summers, man. Can't take them anywhere. But she hasn't commited violence. Yet.

Rorschach was busy jotting notes. There was a bullet list that he handed to teh Gargoyle, and he wasn't making any effort to keep it secret. His hands stayed still until Paige was done, though her words got a nod. THough he signed he didn't seem to rely on anyone else being able to understand it and kept the bother to a minimum as to not detract from the progress. To noone's surprise the Darkling had no reaction to teh threat of violence. He, while unhealthy looking, bore teh marks of more than one scuffle and seemed to be armed enough at a glance for quick work. Fingers stuffed themselves into his back pockets to keep warm while Byron either voiced the questions/concerns or answered them.

Byron arches one brow at Yorik when the man says he isn't fit for command, but keeps his comments to himself when Jonah cuts the man off. First, he nods at Paige, "That's entirely possible. And even if it /is/ something hostile to the local Lost, hostiles have friends, and we don't want to necessarily walk the freehold into a war on Day 1. So again, if occupied is the only thing we find, we'll consider whether or not it's something we want to take. Keep your fingers crossed for abandoned." He pauses there for a moment to take a breath and consider, then offers, "The natural growth in the Hedge near the closest gates is not normally dangerous. There are no maneater plants to speak of, like we've seen before. We've run into some sort of creature that has natural invisibility, which is going to make things very interesting if we run into one and it's /important/ that we do not go out solo. If we stay in groups, it is less likely that one of these things will try to attack. Snow or rainfall in the Hedge will distort their effect...like that stupid little movie Ashe showed me...what was it, Predator? Anyway. there are scavenger hobs that roam the area that are not hostile, and most will even trade if you offer something they want...but be careful. There are specific ones that gather the snowfall when that happens, and if they see anyone else gathering snow, they will get possessive and consider you a threat to their...riches. So I'd recommend leaving the snow alone if it happens while we are in there." He pauses to think again for a moment, then shakes his head at Jonah, "I think that covers the things we're more likely to run into."

Late. Something Rails absolutely hates being. Still, what's done is done. He makes his way to and into the cave, boots crunching stone and crystal shards beneath his steps. Not a hurried pace but brisk none the less. Badge still hanging around his neck, he's -just- escaped the clock and came right here. He wastes no time in joining the group, a nod here and there. He doesn't announce his arrival, not while Byron is talking. That'd be rude.

Byron adds, after finishing, to look down at Ror's note and nods slowly in agreement with whatever it says.

Beatrice comes in, admitedly late but not looking like it troubles her. She has on a sleeveless t-shirt with her overalls half on and tied at the waist. She glances around at those assembled and just takes a spot standing in the back, arms crossing and weight shifting as she begins listening.

Paige nods to Byron and another M&M goes down the hatch. "Sounds good," she says, glancing over to the newer arrivals, giving a wave to both. Strangers? Pfft. There are no strangers to Paige, it seems! "When do we wanna start this, by the way?" she asks, glancing back to Byron and Jonah.

Rorschach stood planted, though his entire upper torso turned a clean 180* like an owl's head. Some people were spineless, the bug was apparently boneless. Once Rails' entrance ebhind them was summed up, and inventory of him was taken the bug-man nodded from within the shadows of the hood pulled up in silent greeting. His antennae twitches as other noises bounced around, but his primary attention fell back to teh two primary men presenting. Fingers came out of his back pocket and wiggled a hullo to DObson who took teh time to introduce himself. The Darkling's invasidve mantle continued to leech all of the colour from around him, but continued to seem unobtrusive otherwise as he let the information stir and sit. Somewhere inside his leather jacket came a trilling chirp like a curious violin. His shoulders slumped and a finger pressed to his lips though no 'shoosh' sound came out.

Jonah stands near the front of the gathered Harvestmen in just a jacket and jeans. "If that's what you know, that's what we know. If you can, I'd like you to take out a few folks from your squad and any volunteers from the others during the week to scout ahead. If things don't pan out when we're out there in full, we continue east taking the trod or any temporary paths we can lay down. Past that, we have two other things to talk about, but one person." His attention turns to Dobson in the crowd, and he clears his throat. "Starting today, Mr. Desrochers here is a private. Any assigning to a squad won't happen just yet, but he's due the usual congrats. And aside from that, you're hosting a party tomorrow, right, Private Desrochers?"

Dobson offers a gap-toothed smile for Rorschach's wave, his expression interrupted by the sudden discovery of a crust of bread at the bottom of his pocket. He pulls it out, gives it a sniff, then happily pops it into his maw, chewing contentedly. It means he nearly chokes, of course, when Jonah promotes him on the spot. Consequently, it takes him a moment to recover to answer the question. "Aye. Tomorrow at the family pub, down fort way. Freehold only." He rubs his knuckles across his nose.

The promotion of Dobson gets a a few heavy claps from Rails who gives the now fellow Private an upnod of recognition. He briefly glances about the group, is he the only one clapping? That'd be... awkward. "I'll be there. Hopefully not late like I was tonight." One of the two in the room with no Seeming, Rails stands out strictly due to his strange normalcy in this odd place.

Paige grins at Dobson and his promotion, but doesn't say anything now. She just tucks the empty candy wrapper into her pocket to dispose of later while she takes the time to look at people. She doesn't stare, nothing that rude, but she does watch them all.

Byron pauses to offer a bit of applause at the promotion, chuckling softly, "The man is offering a party. Well, we have to support our fellow Harvestmen, yes?" A pause, then he adds in agreement with Jonah's comment, "If you're skilled in Hedge exploration, catch up with me when we're done here so I can grab a few to start scouting soon and get an initial idea of any changes in the area before we make a concerned push."

A skeleton grin was won from the bug. A muted clap came from gloved hands beore his fingers were stuffed back into his back pockets for warmth in the cold cave. The toe of his boot tamped the packed ground behind him a bit. He tapped Byron's sleeve withthe back of his gloved, bruised hand and nodded. To no surprise the bug seemed to be on board for scouting and recon missions. There were minimal gestures with his hand regarding himself, and likely indicating voluntary involvement there. At the crumple of the candy wrapper an antenna twitched. He finally turned and dug through his pocket to offer her a guitar pick in trade for the candy proffered earlier.

There indeed was applause for Dobson's promotion from most of the Harvestmen outside of Yoric and all of his squad. Jonah's applause is short-lived before he waits for things to quiet back down. "About that party. If possible, if any of you are attending try to get a feel for anyone that might be appropriate for us. Our numbers aren't dwindling, but there's no such thing as too much defense for the Freehold and its members." He then lifts both hands in faux innocence, smiling brielfly. "Don't go around beating anyone over the head with it, of course. The pamphlets haven't been printed out yet, and I'm not quite sure how to get a skywrighter into the Hedge. I'm joking," he says baring that maw full of razors mimicing teeth with an upturned grin. "Just don't overshadow the festivities or the host."

Beatrice shifts her weight, nodding in approval.

"Last thing are the recruits. Rather, new faces." Jonah steps back to the fore of the Harvestmen, and lifts a finger to lazily point in Rorschach's direction. "Are you looking to join, or just an admirer? We've had more than enough of the latter, and it's part of why we need solid headquarters of our own. Stand up, tell us who you are and what you're about."

Seeming happy that the attention has drifted away from him, but still red from the applause, Dobson cranes his neck to get a better look at Rorschach, lifting a blond eyebrow in expectation.

Rorschach flipped the pencil back out and jotted a note. He flipped over a pre-prepared page having either come prepared, or done this before. He added a annotation to the bottom handing it to Byron who was closest. He signed to Jonah though pointing to himself and then slapped one hand into teh other like a pantomime of stuffing an envelope. Whatever that was he was committed to that answer. A fist tapped his shoulder.

Byron clears his throat when Jonah indicates Rors and glances down at the bug before he offers, "Inkblot is good with Hedge scouting and beast trapping and is looking to sign on. I plan on taking him out with us scouting and make sure that he'll work out as part of the team." He looks down at the note Rors hands him and gives a curious look at Rors before reading it off, "The Freehold calls me Rorschach. I am Brother of the Silent Night and Court of the Moon. I can track and trap about any threat, scout, infiltrate, and more importantly exfiltrate anyone fallen behind. Friend to subterranian environments, eater of crumbs. What up. I'm in. We need to survive, and that means a longterm plan and information of threat assessments to run on. Happy to teach what I know." The gargoyle chuckles and mutters down at Ros, "Rorschach. Not Inkblot. Got it."

"I don't know. I kinda like Inkblot. It's got panache or something," Paige says with a grin after listening to Byron, shifting until she's standing on her stool. She's the shortest one here though, so she needs all the help she can get in being seen. "And you know, if we ever need a place to meet up and don't wanna meet here, I've got a bar. With a back room that's pretty much just for Lost," she offers with a shrug.

Rorschach cracked an amused grin up at he Gargoyle and patted his shoulder. Apparently all was forgive, and the shrug suggested he was flexible on the name. He tapped the side of his nose, somewhere under the hood, and pointed back to DObson. 'Hey you' it suggested, now able to return the introduction.

"I love chocolate panache," Dobson rumbles to Paige, with a kind of sincere longing that is echoed by a rumble in his stomach. The ogre seems to have no idea what Rorschach's sign language means, but he grins and taps the side of his nose and points back by way of showing he's on board.

Jonah's attention shifts from Rorschach to Byron as the other Ogre begins to read the Darkling's message aloud. He turns back to Rorshach as mention of the Moon Court is made, staring unblinkingly at Rorschach. "Alright, Inky. If Dees hasn't already told you, we have usual process before someone becomes a full on recruit. We can go on the details. Later. The short of it is that for a season you'll be trained by the privates and LTs. Don't mess it up, and you'll be a full on member. At the first chance you get, try to meet with Private Utridge, asap. She's the primary over training for most of the recruits, and the one who gives me their evaluations along with the LTs."

While Jonah is turning back to address the Harvestmen as a group, Rorschach has gained Yoric's attention. The Fairest is whisper among his ilk with an occasional word thrown in by another. "Last order o' business. Paige. There's something I've heard about happening out west, but we can't expend too much to check out unless we know it's a threat. Can you take about two more with you, and scout things out asap? Mainly with you in the air, and the others moving on the ground."

Paige cocks her head. "Where out west? There's a whole lotta west out there. Though I'm down with taking a couple people and checking it out. Anyone wanna volunteer for that since I don't know any of you super well?" she asks, looking around.

Rorschach let the slit of a grin turn a touch wry at the scrutinty. Who ever knew with his type. Apparently Jonas subscribed to that theory, to be fair, not without reason to from precidents either. At the rundown the bug held two fingures in an informal salute indicating all was clear. His weight shidted between his boots, and the lanky figure of him fell silent again...silent-er(?) curious about the answer to Paige's questions.

"Depends on what skills might be most useful to you. Me? I'm not the quiet type." Dobson rolls his broad shoulders. "But if I get my hands on someone, I'm a happy camper." He closes one of his ham-sized fists and the muscles in his arm bulge. "Than again, can't shoot anything to save my life. So...yeah. Whatcha need?"

"Guns are a coward's weapon." Beatrice doesn't mince words, that is her approval of Dobson's approach.

Byron mmms and reaches out to place a huge hand on Rors' shoulder, but he addresses Paige, "If you find yourself short on people, let me know and I'll be happy to come with you." He leaves the rest of it at that, letting his gaze roam around the room to take in other people's reactions and commentary.

Rorschach pointed at himself and made a 'tiptoing' gesture with his fingers that anyone could pick up on. Yes. Bugs were quiet, and apparently that was willingness to aid were it needed. Beatrice's comment won her a gesture of heart-hands from the Darkling though. Judging by the short blades on him, he was biased. The heavy hand on his shoulder pulled one antenna up in curious inquiry and won Byron nod, be it of gratitude or approval.

"Quietly," Jonah says flatly. "Go quietly. The most I got was it was out near Skip-a-Step, and that it looked like a turtle. This is scouting, not fighting. Only fight if it's defend yourself, or you see the thing going near the gate out there."

"Like he said, quietly," Paige tells Dobson, before her gaze flicks to Beatrice. "I disagree, though I don't use them myself." She nods to Rorschach. "If Jonah doesn't mind you coming with me, I'm down. I like sneaky people. Anyone else sneaky or have a way of not being seen?"

Rorschach looked to Paige and pointed to himself, covered his eyes, then gestured his hands out slowly, and broadly like he was covering the room with a blanket. He sighed and scribbled a note to her in teh bent notepad and walked it over.

"Yeah, well." Dobson offers a lopsided grin that suggests, as per his self-evaluation, he is out of the mix. He adjusts the position of his broad back against the wall, perhaps scratching at an itch, then glances back to Jonah.

"Alright then, ladies and gents. Unless anyone else has any questions or-" Before he can even finish the Wintry Fairest stands along with the rest of his cadre. As they begin to make their exit Yoric stops by Rorschach, pulls a card from the pocket of his jacket, and leaves it in a seat for the Darkling to grab. As Yoric's squad contineus their egress Jonah simply stares a hole into the back of their heads until they've left for Stoneheart's exist. It takes a few seconds before he returns to the Harvestmen, but when he does it's with an obvious tone of anger bubbling underneath. "Unless anyone has any more questions or things to say, that should just about cover it. You're free to drink the wine," he points out while thumbing in the direction of the opened up cask, and then motions off to the overlarge platter of cooked, now cold meat that's piled up, "or food. Personally, I'm gonna have a few drinks, but I'll be here all day."

Byron watches Yorik go, and waits until the Fairest and his squad have taken their leave before the gargoyle shoots a curious look at Jonah. In what could be termed amusement, he grumbles, "I know Winter, but isn't HE a bundle of joy to deal with." With that said, though, he straightens up and rolls his neck slowly, nodding his head at Dobson, "See you at your gathering, then."

Beatrice shakes his head a few seconds, letting a small puff of air through her teeth. "About time." She walks over to the table of food, looking it over to determine which of the weak shall be culled first.

Paige watches Yoric leave before she looks back to Jonah. "Can I kick his ass? Pretty please? Maybe cut him, just a little? You know, for dissing my boss and all that?" she asks, hope clear in her voice. "But nah, I don't have anything else right now. I'll find a third person then we'll go see what's out there to see."

Dobson is all about that food. With a celerity that might be surprising in a fellow his size, he launches himself from the wall and finds his way to the nearest tastey morsel in a few flutters of an eyelash. "Ymssh, dhtjhsaghing," he says through a mouthful to Byron, perhaps interpretable as: 'yes, at the gathering!'.

Rorschach turned and it was hard to tell if he arched an eyebrow under the deep shadows of the hood and the goggles keeping his subterranian eyes from teh afternoon light, but one antenna did lift curiously at the dropped card. Nible fingers fetched it. Rorsch concerned himself more withthe contents of the card than teh usual faire of suspiscion his court was generally regarded with. Paige's request to be premitted violence and retribution got an amused, mute chuckle from him. But oh, food. And the Darkling looks like he's been starved for weeks, though that might just be how the hedge spat him out. Not everyone can be a Fairest. He wandered over to DObson and offered a hand out to him, presumably on teh promotion.

Jonah looks over to Paige, frowning. "He's an LT. You kill him, and you'd be in the same trouble he'd be in." He pauses, rubbing at the base of his horns. "I'll give ya a card, but that's it. Favoritism can only go so far, and I'd rather not have to explain to the Winter Court that an Armiger got knifed in the back because he doesn't know when to shut his mouth."

Byron really does stifle the smile when Jonah talks about someone getting knifed. Honest. He does. Instead he softly clears his throat and turns his attention back to the Captain, "I'll loop back with you after we get some scouting done before the outing, let you know what we find. If things have drastically changed since I went out last, that might be important all on its own. Major changes in the Hedge are a good idea somethings going on."

Dobson looks at that hand as if expecting there to be a bit of chow on offer in its palm. Confusion flutters there for a moment, but only just...then his expression brightens tremendously. That jack-o-lantern smile reappears and he takes Rorschach's hand in his own, giving it several firm, but not uncomfortable pumps. He even swallws and says, "Good to meetcha!," his voice booming. "I don't know nuthin' about the Moon Court. But I look forward to learning about it!"

"Hey, did I say kill? Nooooooope. I said kick his ass," Paige says, grinning. "Though, if you point out that a Winter didn't know how to shut his mouth, /they'd/ probably add a second stab. Just sayin'," she points out with a shrug. "But if the meet's done, I'm gonna bounce. Anyone decides they wanna be the third on the scouting party, let me know. I'll be at my bar or here or my number's out there."

Rorschach retrieving his hand from DObson with a amicable nod of agreement he pocketed the card inside his leather jacket where several other layers were. Family of fucking Silent Nights with their layers and pockets and dodgy motives and creepy ass doodads. Oh the pockets. One of the layers had the card dropped into it and the pocket zipped before he bundled back up. Now? Food stuffs, though he idly listened to the data and interplay of Winter's Woes. It may not have surprised him, but it shure as shit amused him pleanty.

Jonah passes on the food, and moves right to the barrel of hedge-wine. "Yeah, you did say," the Ogre responds, "don't mean I won't hedge my bets. You're good to go either way. Just get back to me on what you find asap." He grabs one of the mugs set aside, and swings it into the barrel to fill it up. He looks over to Beatrice, despite her attempts at stealth. "Did you want the hasty run down of things, or the long of it? Gimme an answer before you enjoy yourself."

Beatrice swallows the food she was eating, turning to Jonah with a shrug. "It makes no difference, Glavnyy." She has never been taken by long speeches. "What must be done, will."

First comes the mug turning up as Jonah downs a bit of his drink. He wipes at his mouth with the back of his hand afterward, and lets out a contented sigh. "Firstly, this place," he says with a long look around Stoneheart, "isn't really working for us as a group. There's space, but most of it isn't ours. We need a place to properly plan and what not, and we're gonna get it. Either that or make it. Won't know just yet. We'll be marching out in full force next week with Stony at the helm. If you haven't caught up with him he's big one that looks like a statue with the tiny wings. He's also scouting out ahead, but not sure who he's taking so may wanna talk to him asap."

Beatrice nods curtly to that. "Very well. I am not much for sneaking, let them tip toe." She rotates one shoulder. "This sounds like a beast." That downgrades the threat in her mind, or at least the interest.

Jonah shakes his head in response while downing more of the Changeling-made swill. "Nah, that's for Feathers and Inky, and whatever it was out west. Stony's going to scout ahead starting at the base of the mountain and going east. From what he said there's already some danger down there, but him and his are going to check out any other dangers they might've already missed. Whoever he takes will be the eyes before we put our whole foot down and start marching out there as one whole group." Beat. "We're not literally marching, by the way. While the job came with military ranks, that ain't me."

Beatrice taps her shoulder thoughtfully for a few moments. "Marching is marching, sloppy or not, ja? The forest vill notice us."

Jonah contemplates that for a moment, eyeing Beatrice over the rim of his mug. He downs the rest of his drink in short order, initially responding with a slight rise and fall of his shoulders. "Suppose you got me there. If things don't work down at Singing Sky we'll keep moving east until we hit the gates. I'm hoping it'll be a short order, but I don't expect it to be the slightest bit easy for us."

"I wouldn't be too surprised. I can't say where the path'll lead us, but that goes with looking for our own footing to stand on. We might be in some castle in the sky or in a cave just big enough for the tall ones to get through without having to duck down." To that he steals a glance at the places entrance, grimacing briefly before turning back to Beatrice. "Either way, I got faith in Stony and the rest of the LTs. Even if we don't find what we want we'll find something." Beat. "If not, I guess it's time to see about seeing if we can bust open some of these cave walls."

"I wouldn't be too surprised. I can't say where the path'll lead us, but that goes with looking for our own footing to stand on. We might be in some castle in the sky or in a cave just big enough for the tall ones to get through without having to duck down." To that he steals a glance at the places entrance, grimacing briefly before turning back to Beatrice. "Either way, I got faith in Stony and the rest of the LTs. Even if we don't find what we want we'll find something." Beat. "If not, I guess it's time to see about seeing if we can bust open some of these cave walls."

"A varrior pledge, glavnyy." She slides her hands into her pockets. "Not a forever one like the freehold. One for a battle. This will be a battle." And off Beatrice goes.