#dreaming

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The Cherubs with wings straighten their business suits.

"All right, thanks everyone for coming on time. As you know, with the recent destruction of a certain dragon spring energy projects received a windfall surplus, but I'm sorry to say that has been squandered by many others before our day even got rolling around" Says the CEO (That is, Cupid Executive Officer), "Bob will tell us more about it."

"Thanks, Fred," Bob, in charge of acquisition and supply, straightens his pink bow tie, "The good news is, we still did get a slight surplus, with which we have forged more arrows and, to top it off, a supple of rare pomegranates was found. Security was tight, but our teams are some of the best in the biz and managed to get some juice from some which we have laced into our arrows."

"Where on earth did you find fruits of desire?" Pat asks.

"Ha, he's not going to tell you that, " Roger from marketing smiles, "he's too afraid we'll pinch from the closet."

"We do all like to have just a bit more, don't we?" Fred chuckles but gets it back on track , "The point is, thanks to this, we are well armed, well stocked. But we are also cutting into actual shooting time. And not everyone is receptive. It appears, some folks seem to think love is, well,.. a pain in the ass."

Everyone turns to look at Roger.

"Hey, don't blame my department, Marketing has been churning out great campaigns about how fantastic love or even desire can be!" Roger protests, "It's not my fault changelings lean more towards Unseelie this time of year, at least some of them. And the message is good, but a few have been burned in the execution."

Pat scowls, "Distribution through most of the year is hindered, we're not what we were. "

"No one is blaming distribution," Fred says, smoothing things over, "OR Marketing. I am not saying it is Distrubitions or marketing's fault, but it is, however, your mutual problem."

Pat and Roger exchange wary side glances at each other ,but nod slowly.

"Bailey, what's research showing for best target areas?" Fred asks.

The previously quiet cupid, the one with glasses, straigthens papers "We actually have several promising targets I might recommend."

Fred gives a look "Such as?"

"Oh, right," Baily coughs "Well, just now, there's one Sally Mae, now she's a DeBuke..."

"Who isn't?" Roger jokes. That gets some chuckles, except from Bailey who sighs at being interupted.

"She's a DeBuke, but, she's at the River vale Lodge wishing for love. She should be an easy target. A greater difficulty is, well, one Dagmar Hammerstrike. Proceed with caution there, she's... well, she's in the black file."

A few sympathetic winces and mutters there. It seems every year, the black file grows largers, and when it does shrink, it's not from always good reasons.

Pat says "So tell my crew she's off limits? I mean, there's always the chance it will really help."

Roger throws his hands up, not having fun for once, "I have tried promoting the benefits of love and romance to her, but right now, if you fired an arrow at her, if she didn't dodge, she'd panic at the result. I mean, her parents are all over each other. I've practically used them as a living hallmark card. But nope. She's happy for them, but all she wants is cats."

"Actually," Baily double checks "She wants to get older, foster many kids, and have a horse stable for foster kids with lots of dogs AND Cats. She saw the idea partially from a hold in Willows and loves the idea. Maybe not a ranch like that, but a place where children learn to open up and trust by bonding with an animal that would never mean them harm."

A collective 'awwww' erupts around the table

"They're not all so sympathetic," Fred says, "I'm sure everyone knows about the 'Nadeen' incident? That nearly sent one of our mortal allies into apolexy?"

Some dark mutters. No one was crazy how Kerri, a friend to cupids more or less, was treated by Nadeen.

"No kidding," Roger says "That girl has done more to disparage our product than just about anyone. Even the REDCAP, what's his name? Jerk?"

"Dirk" Baily corrects

"Nuance," Roger says, ,then goes on "Even Dirk has more respect for love than Nadeen does. A REDCAP."

There is much agreement that this is... well, that's terrible.

Fred paces, wings a flutter, "I consider myself a reasonable cupid, but House Varich, perhaps to preserve their own egos, has gone too far in disparging love. I will not allow this proud institution to be slandered without retribution. I hearby order... and authorize, a Infrapink level strike on Nadeen Dancingsnow"

"Oh the gang will be so happy," Pat says with eyes alight. "Intense Twitterpation or Insatiablity?"

"I leave that to your crew," Fred says.

"Supply will last longer if we hit other targets in that barony while we take out one," Bob suggests. Pinching arrows is his job.

"All right, do a general strike on the area, obviously nothing that would strain oaths," Fred says, "Pat, get everything you need from Bob's department. Bob, open the coffers."

Bob nods.

Roger smiles, "That's a lot of shooting, Pat. Good luck."

"It's okay, " Pat smiles, a bit impish "Most of them are BIG targets."

(End Scene)