#earthrunes

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Sparrow hikes in, backpack slung over one shoulder. She wears a mask in a rainbow of colors and a pair of goggles. Her hands and arms are flecked in paint. Good, busy morning!

"Sis?" Magnus' voice can be heard as she comes in

"Magnus?" Wings lift, mirroring Ladybird's quirked ears.

She pulls off her mask and goggles.

"Hi. Got a moment?"

"Yeah, sure. Gonna go wash my hands, though." She starts for the kitchen. Ladybird snuffles at the Fiona's knees and hands.

"Good idea" he follows

Snuffle-snuffle-wag?

She turns on the tap and scrubs. "So - what's up?"

"A lot... and it's escalated," he says "I know you've been busy, but I may have a favor to ask... how do you feel about going to New Jersey to help break a link in the chain of a human trafficking operation?"

Blink.

"Human trafficking?"

"I mean, of course I'll help. Is this near Rivervale?"

"Beyond it, at the other county's edge... look, not that you'll be on your own, but..." He explains... EVERYTHING... Three squads, Tantalus, the Balor, what they know of them... and humans with guns, lots and lots of guns

She frowns and nods. "And guns are a good way to get very very dead."

"Frank will want to help. And I doubt the Baroness would wish to be idle."

"We understand you might want to talk to them, in fact, August seems to consider it a must... "

"Liam loyalty , small House, cliquish you lot" A smile

"We're scrappy."

He laughs "yes.. and the Mountain likes you if I recall. I know he's not crazy about me though honestly his being my relucatant therapist was .. well, I thought he was good at it"

Eyebrow.

"No, Franklyn does not exactly enjoy talking about feelings."

"I know, I mean, I caught on Vali was having fun suggesting that, but by then I was part of the joke and I rolled to continue it" A smile "Good brow by the way, I can tell you've been at Rivervale. What do you think their help will be like? I mean.. my plan was to put you in charge of this particular raid."

"They know the territory better... now, you think there's a holding facility there?"

"The Kings tend to be direct when they act."

"A factory for textiles..., technically, the workers were furloughed, let go... etc... yet it's still producing product. " HE pulls out a map "This is the buiilding floorplan... but not sure it's up to date. You and I both know, while the sex trade is a horror, factories and farms alike are another favorite destination for those who need cheap..ie free work"

She grimaces.

"Is it bad I'm almost relieved it's sweatshop work?"

"Very human, but... not to destroy the comfort but we both know any woman working on the factory is... rather vulnerable to any 'supervisor' who decides he wants her." A scowl "not just the women. "

A sigh.

"Sorry, Sis," he says wincing a bit "Guess I did destroy the comfort. The slaves are a large sampling.. mostly Central American, but Africans of various nationalities, and East Asians and Islanders too... maybe a few Eastern Euros...there's going to be a language barrier."

"Also great. Well, Vali speaks French. My spanish is so-so..."

"Can you willow whisper? People are surprised when you talk to their bodies rather than them sort of but it helps"

She shakes her head.

"I only know Sovereign, but, well... I am very good with mortals."

"That's true, you could lead Shriners out of a convention" He nods

"They don't need to know the language to get the message - to stay calm, to go somewhere safe...."

"August wouldn't approve, I'm sure. But to service their liberation?"

"I love August like the father he was and the good man he is, but he won't be on that part of the mission" Simply "And.. dad can be a bit 'narrow' in how he defines right and wrong. He's better about it than he was. Me? I'd say if you have to dictum the crowd and have them resent you later if resent they do"

She shrugs. "I have been resented and scapegoated before."

"Nature of the house, but I don't think dad would go that far. He loves you, goof. " A nod "So I can count on your help?"

"Certainly. I'll hit the road today."

"Fair.. oh, something came to the hold for you, I took the liberty of picking it up so it would seem like I did you a favor when in truth Charity or someone else would have handed it over to you" He holds up a scroll .. it's from Colton! Sealed, but she recognizes the seal. Her former squire has not forgotten her

She brightens, the sun coming from behind clouds. "Oh!"

She takes it. "Thank you! I wonder how he is?" Cracking the seal with some haste to see.

Her brother smiles "Welcome" And steps back, pretty sure hes' about to go invisible...

Formal introductions... titles.. and then.... the good stuff...

Feathers fluff.