#anywhere

(end scene)

Seatle has been crazy fun!

And after a few days in there, well, CC and EBG moved down to Portland.

ALmost giddy with dreams of defiance...

.... and not entirely without some losses of dross and perhaps dignity.

That incident where they tried to pull CC into an unmarked van..well...

Her William dabs at a split lip. "Lucky shot." He assures her. "He'll never have another."

"Not after what you did to him" She says taking over tending to his lip "My hero"

"Hmmph." He leads her a bit out of the way and checks to ensure they were not followed. Happily, the smoke canisters make veiling easy.

"Well, you've made about a dozen enemies, but two dozen rebels, and at least four contacts. Is that a win?"

"Always, particularly if those contacts can become rebels. Some of them, and some of the new rebels, serve in the Duke Sunstone's Court."

A slip of a smile escapes her despite her best efforts and she says "That really is quite the coup isn't it?"

"Hmmph." The boggan looks disgruntled as the bleeding stops. "Styles himself a lumberjack, never seen an honest day's work. 'Sunstone' indeed....." grumbly.

"Oh but he has a magic axe, that makes it ok" an eye roll

"Yes, and do you know who he -got- it from?" Almost a hiss to avoid the attention of anyone who might be seeking them.

"The way he goes on about I assume from some duel?"

"I'm sure that's what he tells himself. He got it from -his- predecessor, also Sidhe, who got it from -his-, also Sidhe, who took it from the troll who cared for these lands and people before the elves staggered out of their moon-trod and blinked."

A sniff. "If not for his blasted accord with the werewolves....."

"Yes well, prodigals complicate matters" She frowns

Then a pause "What if..someone were to steal that axe?"

"..... and use it to decapitate him?" Hopeful.

A laugh "THAT might alarm the Werewolves. Stealing less so." A pause "Unless... oh my... You know, what if the Axe were stolen, and then found in the possession of another noble?"

William considers, but moves as he does. "Let's not linger, keep moving. Hm. Yes, perhaps." Then a frustrated huff. "I'd need a closer look to plan well. An ear to the ground in Pacifica to determine who the best noble would be to have the axe. I still have contacts in GoldenGate, but..... And of course, that assumes it should stay in Pacifica at all. I'm certain it has safeguards on it, Callidora."

"Moving..." She says and does so, then "Well, we could give it to the DeBukes."

"HA!" That startles a bark of laughter out of him despite his concerns. "Haven't you given them enough?" Amused.

"That's Caesar who gave them enough" Wryly "it's just, well, if the Axe belongs to trolls..."

"Ah, but you gave them Caesar." Then he snorts. "Why not give it to Rivervale?"

"mm that would be an interesting test of..." a brow, suspicious "Why Rivervale?"

"Well, strongly troll. And, noble. The Farm has... one knight?"

"And only reluctantly. YOu think noble vs noble, but with a troll noble works best? Mm I don't know. Wouldn't Brekke just hand it back over?" Not as sure of that as she thought she would be "She has been more proud of her kith openly lately"

"And how would we know that, Dearest?"

"The Darkgate fotress she insist become a lodge..." She says

"It's..common news " Waving it off

"Hmmph." He is not fooled. "If it went to Rivervale, it would need to be done in a way that sparks conflict. If she simply shrugs, rolls over, and shows her belly while wagging her tail with the axe handle in her teeth, there's no point."

"More can be done with it, I'm saying."

"Well, what do you want done with it, darling?"

"Mmm." He gives her an eyebrow. "Are you serious about this?"

"I'm curious, not sure how serious I am, but so far my performing before a live crowd was leading a chant and while lively, not the same"

"Hm." He hustles a few blocks more before pausing to listen and watch the streets; he's thinking too.

She fuddles some police officers to see each other as Antifa and walks on

"-If- we were take take the risk, strategically it would only make sense to do the maximum damage, Dearest. I simply do not have the overview I should to know how to achieve that. "

"I know the Duke by reputation and yes, I have spent some time in SunStone but that was years and years ago. I passed through his court once, but he was not in residence at the time."

"Understood" she nods "We let it go"

He sighs. "Yes. I suppose so. It -was- a lovely idea, Dearest."

"Also, you now have contacts... that means you have time to learn more over the next few months don't you?"

"Yeeeeeessss...." slowly.

"Then, we put it on the backburner and let it simmer" Pleased

"Mmm. I do love cooking with you." He pauses and takes a kiss.

she takes a kiss, gentle thne parts "Lip feeling better?"

"Now."