[hr][center][img]https://i.imgur.com/OKGd0x2.png[/img][h1]Ruby White.[/h1][/center][right][b]Interactions:[/b] Stormy ([@Blizz]), Clancy ([@Zombiedude101]), & Sloane ([@Atrophy]).[/right][right][b][code]The House on the Hill.[/code][/b][/right][hr][hr][center][hider=Zero Tolerance - David Holmes][youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t1DyB-RQYA8[/youtube][/hider][/center][hr][hr]

[quote=Stormy][color=00ff98]”Is there anything we can do to return the favor? You’re going to a lot of trouble by stepping up for us, it’s only fair if we give back.”[/color][/quote]

Based on Stormy's emotional state (and, yes, it was [i][b]mad[/b][/i] intrusive to read everyone's emotions like this), he seems calm and relaxed. This contrasts with everyone else here being worried, concerned, angry, or outright apathetic. Ruby interpreted his question as absolutely legit, and she was wondering if now was a good time for that fancy call to action. Though, in Ruby's eyes, she was helping Greenwood just as much as she was assisting Sycamore - for those concerns she voiced earlier, [i]and[/i] that she didn't want to lose Sully. However, she doubted that he, or anyone else in this room, would buy [i]that[/i].

"I would say [i]finally[/i] getting rid of assholes like Emily and her cronies is enough but..." Ruby trailed off, glancing at her three maidens, before sighing, then adding, "... There is something. I hate to sour the mood with a sob story, but Greenwood is... minus two."

She shook her head before she continued. "Lyric Brown and Felicia Harvey were murdered by the Das Sonnenrad cult and robbed of their artifacts. Lyric herself was an artificer, and we've been trying to track down her artifacts because hell if we're going to let some skinheads use [i]her[/i] hard work to commit hate crimes."

Ruby shook her head. "So, if you can help us find those, then that'd be great—but I don't want to seem like we're doing this for something in return."

[quote=Clancy][b]"I don't know you people, and you won't know me... this [i]coven[/i] stuff is all new to me, but I've taken care of myself long enough to know there's  [i]other[/i] stuff out there, so I can guess you're here for the [i]right[/i] reasons? Not to be assholes?"[/b][/quote]

Then the kid started talking. Ruby gleaned that his emotional state was lost: fear, worry, and, beneath all of it, anger—the type of anger someone would have if they were dealt a raw deal by life and the wounds kept coming one after another.

[i]A [b]dangerous[/b] kind of anger.[/i]

[quote][b]"I want the [i]asshole[/i] who killed Ashley. I can’t rule out that it someone who knew her and everyone else in this room that dealt with the [i]snake[/i] years ago. [I]That's[/i] the common lead. But while I'm at it, there's [i]some[/i] people here that she probably cared about. And [i]8th Street...[/i] that [i]prom queen[/i] who runs them is a problem, and she obviously doesn't give a shit who or [i]what[/i] she steps on, like uh - bird-lady here. And I'm [i]still[/i] not convinced she isn't part of it, or knows more than she's telling about the murders. The others are assholes..."[/b][/quote]

As the kid spoke, though, Ruby seemed less and less interested and, at some point, stopped listening completely. [i]Talking huge, for what? A twelve-year-old?[/i] Ruby thought to herself, rolling her eyes. Despite dismissing this kid, Ruby gave him a [i]courteous[/i] response.

"... [i]You're a kid,[/i]" Ruby sharply answered Clancy. "I don't know what they told you, but did you forget that you walked up, got capped by that Wolfpack bitch, and caused that absolute fuckin' pandemonium? [b][i]You're[/i][/b] not doing anything. [i]Sit your ass down[/i]." [i]No wonder he got shot.[/i] Ruby thought to herself with a roll of her eyes.

Thankfully, someone with more sense was next to speak.

[quote=Sloane][color=silver]“Sloane Faris. I have a question. While I am also interested in hearing how you’d want to deal with 8th Street or what else you’d be looking to get out of this alliance, I think it would be nice to learn more about our potential partners before jumping immediately into business with strangers.”[/color] 

[color=goldenrod]“Oh, they’re not strangers, they—”[/color] 

[color=silver]“Perhaps this was addressed at the previous meeting, but unfortunately...my schedule is quite full on Sundays. You already seem to have a general idea about Sycamore—our problem with 8th Street, our nasty habit of getting murdered, etcetera—but outside of hearing the name before I don’t really know anything about the Greenwood Coven. How long have you been a coven? Why did you form? Notable accomplishments? Things like that.”[/color][/quote]

As she introduced herself, Sloane was reserved from Ruby's scans of her emotional state, but there was an underlying stress, anxiety, and dread underneath it all. This said a lot about "Sloane Faris," but she was fair in her questioning. She didn't know them, and while Greenwood knew a lot about Sycamore, it was mutual. Maybe Ruby was getting ahead of herself!

"Ah, yes, I'm more than willing to help fill in the gaps," Ruby stepped forward, tapping her staff on the ground. "We've been a Coven for eight years now, but I've known a majority of the membership since [i]childhood[/i]. We've formed because after the whole mess with Stiggy, the entire landscape of St. Portwell changed for the worse. Monsters were roaming the streets and woods, and people were going ham trying to fill in the power vacuum. I want to say that, on paper, we formed to protect nature, but in all actuality, we formed as a..."

Ruby hesitated as she searched for the right words. "... As companionship. [b][i]Survival.[/i][/b] We wanted to protect ourselves, our families, and our homes from the shitshow that took place afterward. And over time, we grew stronger, more organized, and more focused - enough to shift our goal from just protecting ourselves to making a difference. We started to take on more responsibilities, like keeping the balance of nature and preventing the misuse of artifacts."

Ruby then scanned the room for their hesitant and skeptical faces. "As for accomplishments, we took out several hostile Covens, Cults, and other magical organizations before they could dig their roots into St. Portwell. We're also a [i]huge[/i] pain in the ass for the Elite and Wolfpack - we ruined [i]many[/i] of their trade deals and recovered artifacts they were going to buy-sell. But I guess our greatest accomplishment was fighting the Das Sonnenrad Cult. And..."

Ruby turned towards James before she pointed her staff at him, and he put on the [b][i]biggest[/i][/b] shit-eating grin, "... James here killed Kaiser Draeger and put an end to his reign of terror."

"Aw shucks!" James laughed. "It was a team effort, you know!"

"... Yes, a team effort involving you running off on your own to run a fade on one of the most dangerous men in the city." Naomi rolled her eyes.

Then Ruby said, "We've also recently formed alliances with the 317 and the Temple of Charming and Graceful Individuals. That reminds me, and I can also hook you up with an alliance with the 317. Their leaders love us, and a couple of ya'll are a part of them." Ruby neglected to mention an alliance with the Temple - she figured Leon had that [i]covered[/i].

"If you need me to elaborate, I'll gladly, sweetie," Ruby smiled at Sloane. "If not... then the Sycamore Tree Coven has some blanks I'd like filled. Tell me about ya'll. Your names. What you can do. What you [i]have[/i] done."

A farm smile crept across her face.

"... What are ya'll waiting for? Let's get to know each other."