IC RADIO CONTACT

[starseedling]

✆CHANNEL FREQUENCY: 123.78383
DESCRIPTION: Steven will be fairly quick to answer, on average, but it's also entirely possible that he'll forget his radio or get distracted from answering.

✉MAIL BOX LOCATION: Mailbox on Door
DESCRIPTION: It's wooden and a little crooked but Steven is gradually covering it in sequins and jewels.

Comments

[starseedling]

[Steven comes closer, stirring up his courage as Childermass reacts in a normal person kind of way. A lot bar, of course, but there is an ever present edge of paranoia that he is growing to hate - the worry that, when first approaching people, they will somehow turn on him.

Hoo boy. It's going to take a long time to get over this, isn't it?]

Oh? Who is it?

[He looks around, having zero idea of what to expect.]

[atouts]

One of the summer fae who lives here.

[ That's right, more faeries because any of them really want to deal with more faeries. Unfortunately, he doesn't have a lot of options to pick from in the Summerlands. ]

I've been looking for a way to hide you and Mr. Strange from the Summer Court and she's offered to help us with that, in a way.

[starseedling]

[Steven stares at Childermass for a moment, his mouth hanging open.]

Whaaaaat?

[His brow furrows as he tries to sort out what the most likely method Childermass could be talking about it, but doesn't have much success.]

What kind of way?

[atouts]

[ And then and there he has to decide just how much he can explain that Steven would understand. It takes a few seconds, where he looks thoughtful, and then he goes on with, ]

It's not possible to hide you outright, but there are enchantments to make you seem less important to them, to make you someone not worth wasting so much time on.

[starseedling]

[Well, he's certainly not a total stranger to fae magic at this point. At the least, his eyes show recognition as Childermass explains - he doesn't totally get how that would work practically speaking, but he at least sort of understands the effect that's being described.]

Really? [He's about to ask more, but then he realizes something and catches himself. He lifts his shoulders a bit, like he's just narrowly avoided being bitten.]

So... what's the catch? [He's not angry, he just sounds like he thinks he's wised up to something.] The faeries want something in exchange, right?

[atouts]

[ And he would be right. Any gift from a fae doesn't come free and it should be suspect if it ever seems to, so Childermass can actually respect that healthy bit of suspicion. He gives Steven a nod. ]

Of course. That's as it always is or should be, but you won't have to worry about it. I've already exchanged something for the warding.

[starseedling]

[Steven has to pause, considering that. He furrows his brow uncertainly, his ears folding back.]

...What was it?

[He's hoping it wasn't anything important. The idea of making deals with fae is increasingly nerve-wracking, now that he's seen how bad it can get.]

[atouts]

Only some cards, ones that I've had for awhile.

[ He answers simply, like what it is isn't somehow important. It is, actually, very important, what he's trading away, but that's something for him to agonize over later and not anyone else. ]

Not my soul or a favor or anything as uncertain as that, if that's your worry.

[starseedling]

[Steven swallows and nods.]

Okay. That's okay.

[He doesn't really know what to do with this interaction. He waffles for a few moments before setting on a course.]

Thank you for figuring that out for me. I guess we really can't risk any of those guys chasing us down again.

[Which feels all too familiar, conceptually.]