#earthrunes

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Later, Shalimar goes looking for his Baroness

Coradel is in the audience chamber, confirming last-minute details with Delores. "It's going to be glorious, so don't worry so much. You've put so much work into it," she assures the boggan, then turns to see her jester. "Oh, Shalimar! There you are. Is all going to plan?"

"Yes yes.." he says "I have a few proifles in that dating site? Care to see?"

"Oooooh....do share!" She rubs her hands together eagerly.

He presents drawings... of four mortals... "Now you did want our next ruler who will be our absolute master to be a Douche of the Dance. So ..."

"Oh, yes, he needs to be dreadful."

The first drawing depicts a balding angry man in his middle age. He looks a bit like Walter White from Breaking bad only not as photogenic . Under the painting it says . Queen's name: Wiliam Rich, Talent shown: Slumlord, Specialty: Planting drugs on tennants rooms to have them arrested so he can rent to someone who will pay more

Shalimar gives her a moment to look him over

"Ha! A fine start. Definitely a contender. And...?" she reaches for the next.

The Next Drawing is that of a woman , a somewhat dough faced lady in her thirties with an sugary smile. Under that it says His Majesty' Name: Angelica Eliza Peg. Talent Shown: Loan Officer and closet racist, SPeciality: Denying Loans to minorities or bending rules so they find themselves in bad deals. So they never ever move wihin a mile of her house

"Oh, my. Hmmmm...I'm having ideas already, but don't want to be greedy."

The next drawing is a good looking guy, closer to 28, a biracial man with an easy smile Her Highness name: Carlos Tolow, Talent: Running a factory for food and treating workers like shit by threatening to deport them if they argue. Specialty: Giving so few breaks healthy workers wearing depends

Coradel scowls and shakes her head in distaste. "They're all winners so far. What is your big finish?"

The last one is that of another man, more hair than the first guy, not as good looking as the second guy but very well dressed His Excellency: Julian Baker, Talent: PHarma CEO , and extorter of flawed health system. Speciality: Secretly setting up ANti Vaxer websites while upping the price on Measeles medication once towns begin to panic creating more demand than supply and thus raising higher

"Tada!" He says

"Any spellings were no doubt the fault of some other pooka who cannot spell as well as myself" He adds

Coradel's eyes widen. "Oh, goodness. Shalimar, you've outdone yourself. This will be a very difficult choice!"

"When you think of the lowest dredges, think of Shalimar..." He stops, "Perhaps I should reword that?"

She laughs lightly. "Not your best marketing ploy, no. So...." She shuffles through the pictures. "This is really difficult. Hmm...." And she tosses them up in the air, and waits to see which ends up topmost.

"Ahhh...." She picks up a picture and brandishes Carlos Tolow like a banner. "The slave-driver it is!"

"There you go... but, milady? I am confused about one thing... once he's in the big chair, his word is from on high and we are bound by the Prime Directive obey it. if only for the knight. Would that per chance be a ..risk?"

A blink. "Isn't that rather the point?"

"It might be, but if he were to say, order a young lady to sit upon a part of him and make with jazz hands..."

"Well...that's pretty much what happened with Queen Bess, isn't it? Except we liked her...so I do see the distinction... Hmmm."

"If imight say, the lion has an excellent preservative or two... as does Jack of the Jim Beanstalk"

"And then... there is such a thing as 'ye old Compliance most malicious'"

"Oh, very nice. And yes...we'll make good use of our bottles and our brains."

"I'm sure we can manage him, Shalimar."

"As thou command, my soon to be big boned baroness" He bows and smiles "And as for the others? Well, if you still find them offensive. I can see who wants to ah.. frolic with them? "

"Oh, yes, please do....and bid them Happy Hunting." A wink.

"So now I need to entice him here. Or do you want to do the honors?"

Shalimar grins "I think I know one lady librarian who might be screaming for a chance at one if she's bored... but as for the target? Nay nay lady... no deposit, no return. Carlos Toooo low is now yours to pick up"

She gives him a formal, low curtsy. "I thank you, my dear Shalimar." Then rises and kisses him on the cheek. "Know where I might find him right now?"

He makes a flipping motion

And he blushes when kissed

She flips over the picture as he gestures, and looks at the back.

There appears to be afamily circus PJ travel type doodle on the city map, certain areas Xed. A factory, a High Rise apartment. A favorite club.

"Ohhh...Shalimar, you have skills I hadn't expected. Have you ever considered becoming an investigator?"

"Oh Claire would kick me out of the bed.." He waves that off

"I did not say...well...fair enough. But I'll be keeping this in mind for the future. Wonderful job." She takes the picture and map, and turns to go, then looks back over her shoulder. "Shalimar, this isn't a while goose chase, is it? An early jab at the holiday's Fool?"

"Baroness.... our relationship is professional, were I ever to jab, I would get Sir August's permission first in writing. He's like a brother to me" Innocent look

A warm smile, and a wink, and off she goes, hunting a dreadful mortal.

Judging the time, she tries the club...

...wearing something appropriately snug and alluring...

She slips into the club and takes a look around.

The guy at the door eyes her, then says "You're over 18?"

A bored look, and she takes out her ID and hands it over. "I get that all the time," she says with a bit of a smile.

"They're cracking down," He shrugs and nods handing it back

"Oh, that sounds pretty inconvenient."