Log:When Kip Calls

When Kip Calls
"What's in my library, Ashe?"
Participants Ashe, Kip	2018.01.12 Kip calls Ashe as he needs to speak with her concerning some rumors.
Location Homepage Books
Night has fallen outside, stealing away the light from the sky that is left totally dark because of that damn layer of clouds that won't go away. And up and down the block there are lights on in the few shops that haven't yet closed up. Homepage is one of those shops. The lighting is warmer and softer than the rest of the places, thanks to the expensive hard-to-find old style lightbulbs that are the lighting choices of hipsters and Kips. Those lights give the place a warm glow instead of that garish brightness of overhead lighting. In fact, the bookstore doesn't use the overhead lights, relying instead of lamps placed all over, turned off and on by the main lightswitch. The one bit of neon, the OPEN sign, is turned off and the flip sign is set to CLOSED since it's just past the closing time for the store. But the lights are on inside, the very very faint hint of ambient music still floods the place as it does during the open hours and there is a Kip at the counter doing something that looks like bookkeeping. The door is, however, not locked to anyone who tries it. Maybe it was the last person that came in, but the door never opens. One moment Kip is standing there all by himself. Then there's a bat hanging from a light and it flaps down to the floor before turning into Ashe. The black hoodie is pulled up around her face and her jeans and boots are dry, so she's been in the store for a bit. Not out in the rain. "You needed me?" she asks in an unemotional tone. Which might be just as frightening given Ashe is normally a cheerful person. Because a sudden bat appearing and turning into your boss isn't scary enough on its own. The pencil that Kip holds as he makes notes in the book nearly flops out of his hand as he jolts slightly and lets out words that should be bleeped. At least they're quiet and under his breath, like much of the things he says. "Ashe, you scared me." No. Really? He sets the pencil down onto the book and pushes them slightly away as he rises from the seat behind the counter. Thankfully all he was doing was bookkeeping and nothing embarassing. "Yeah," he mentions in regard to needing her. "What do you know of some bug-looking guy getting wishes granted?" And right to the point he goes. "Rumor has it you were there. Rumor has a lot of things, though." "Well, I didn't want to be rained on hanging outside and it's comfy in the rafters." Ashe states as she pulls her hood back. "Sorry." she offers. Then Uvall drops down to settle in the hood. Beady little red eyes looking at Kip. "Zorak? He was the one that Neirin made the deal with. I didn't expect that situation though." she admits with a sigh as she leans against the counter. "What's going on with it?" she asks him. Kip can't argue with her not wanting to be in the rain. "You just scared me," he mumbles as he moves around the counter and toward the door, clicking it to make sure it's locked. After all, it's closed. Eat it, Enid. He can put the CLOSED sign up when it's after hours! He wanders back over slowly, covering the short distance as he talks, arms crossed over his chest. "I don't know. I mean I guess. I just-- well, there are rumors going around that the Freehold is making deals. With /Them/. Take those who aren't pledged to us and we won't lift a finger to help, and in return don't come after those who did pledge. Something like that. Which apparently isn't in the slightest what actually took place, buuuuut.... rumor. I just a little while ago found out you were even there to know the truth. First thing I thought of is that you should probably know about it, take it up the chain or whatever." Ashe rubs a hand over her face, "Of course there are rumors going around that we are making deals with them. One of our members was granted a boon from one. So they told them that the boon was to not take people from /our/ Freehold. People that wore the Autumn pins." she sighs. "And of course if non Freeholders were there it would make them concerned." she points out. "Shit. If I wasn't a Freeholder I'd be a little worried." she admits. "But there was no deal made that we wouldn't help those that weren't pledged. It's my job as a Black Apple to put myself between the Gentry and the Lost. Whether we're in the same Freehold or not. King Charlie O knows all of this." she tells him. Kip looks relieved at least that he knows, though even that is barely enough to take away the rod of anxiety that's settled into his spine. "Yeah, there were some there who aren't in the Freehold and they're apparently terrified and up in arms about it. Some of them /know/ that that wasn't the deal, but rumor is going around it was and it's a mess. But at least someone knows. I have no idea what to do about it other than make sure you know. I mean what /can/ I do other than assure them it's not true, right?" He lets out a sigh and shakes his head, his hair falling into his face a bit as he does it. He looks about as tired as he does anxious. Ashe's stitched face is set into a grim facade. "Terrified and up in arms. But they don't want to come and talk to anyone. I don't get people." she shakes her head. "I can make posts that people can read. I'm sure that's not going to help, but it's the least I can do. I'm sure that the ones that aren't in the Freehold will blow it off though and that I'll be lumped in with everyone else." she shakes her head. "Anyone who thinks we'd sit idly by is mistaken." she tells him. "I told this guy-- Count? I don't know what he's supposed to be the Count /of/ or if he just means he likes numbers, anyway he came in and we cleared it up." That's at least something that Kip can help with. "Told him this is a good place if he ever needs info on this sort of thing, make sure we can nip rumors in the bud and all that." He turns toward the counter, bending down a bit to rest his elbows on it, hands scrunched into the hair to push it out of his face. "I mean not everyone wants to pledge. I get that. But to automatically think that if they aren't pledged to our Freehold they're automatically treated like /enemies/? I don't get it. I never felt like I was an enemy before I joined. I just felt like... an outsider. Which I was." Ashe listens to Kip, arms folded across her chest and there's a nod, "We would never turn away someone in need. That's not us. I don't know where the rumors come from, but, we should probably have a word with Charlie." she nods. "I'm really no one right now. I mean..I'm Autumn Councilor and Custodian Elect, but the King can help hopefully." she adds. "Count. I'll keep an eye out for the name." she nods to that. "And some people think that those that don't pledge are weirdos. I know people have their own reasons for not pledging. They might have had bad experiences in the past. I have. But I put trust in this place. Maybe it's because I helped build it." she sighs. Kip gives a slight smile at that and lets go of his hair so he can straighten up and turn, a hand reaching toward her arm. "Hey, it /is/ good. The Freehold. And we trust it. I wouldn't have joined if I didn't feel it was the right thing to do. Sometimes people just have to figure it out for some reason. Maybe they just want to make sure it's the right thing for them. I wasn't out that long when I got here and at first I wasn't sure, so I made sure. I talked to people in the Freehold. I looked into myself. I made the decision once I felt I was ready. Just because it didn't take me that long to do it doesn't mean I raced into it or anything. So if someone needs time to figure it out, I'm fine with giving it to them. Let them make the decision, don't let anyone force it on them. I don't want to be in a Freehold with someone who has even the slightest bit of doubt. That's what you built, Ashe. If that helps." Ashe gives a bit of a smile, "Thank you, Kip." she tells him as she straightens up and seems to stop being so stiff. "It's kinda like a short marriage. You shouldn't join it unless you're damn sure for the season." she chuckles. Then there's a shake of her head. She made herself sad. "I'd rather people made the decision for themselves and didn't feel pressured by anyone. Especially us. So, I understand all sides. If people want to talk to me, feel free to give them my contact information or you can arrange a meeting with a place that is comfortable for them." she tells him. Kip motions to the shop in general, then toward the back room behind the door marked STAFF ONLY. "Seems a pretty neutral place if they don't feel comfortable anywhere else, like the Wayhouse or somewhere that they might think is too... Freeholdy. Plus some of the people I've talked to are already familiar with the place. So if we don't have anywhere else, I'm fine with them being talked to here. I'll even give you a key to the back door and the alarm code." Wow, Mr. Paranoia is pretty trusting. But then again, it's Ashe so... of course he trusts her entirely, even with the keys to his personal tiny kingdom. "Speaking of seasons, I admit, I haven't been to see our new King yet to renew my pledge. I'll be sure to do it, though," he promises. "Thanks, by the way. For coming by. I felt a little... well presumptious, telling you 'Hey. You. We need to talk!' and all that." "Not a bad idea." Ashe tells him with a bit of a smile to him. Then there's a look to him, "You should probably see Charlie O, Mister Librarian. I'd hate to have to boot you out of your new position and you just got it." she chuckles to him. Then there's a shake of her head, "Nah, you're fine. I've not really been doing much. So it was good to get out and start getting back into things." she admits. "And I'm hoping to get some stuff moved in the library so you don't have a heart attack either." she adds as she starts to pull her hood up. Kip seems a bit more chipper. For a moment. He even ventures a motion in his face that might look like... wait is that a smile? "I will," he promises in response to seeing the King." Though the last part? His face shifts. The smile is gone. "Have-- have a-- what's in my library, Ashe?" he asks in a panic-toned meep. Ashe finishes placing her hood about her face and there's a look back to him, the black nothingness looking at him, "The better question would be what isn't in the library." she tells him with a soft chuckle. "You have a good night, Kip." she states in a cheery tone as she heads for the door. Kip just watches her leave, looking like he's not sure if he should yell something after her. He decides not to. But he does look worried.