RP:Growing The Resistance

Part of the Larketian Fault Lines Arc

Summary: Valrae attends a pro-democracy meeting and makes an impression on Tychus, who recruits her for the resistance.

Abandoned Warehouse in Larket

Tychus had left more than a few leaflets around town criticizing the monarchy. He's just held an informal meeting at an abandoned warehouse with his comrades-in-resistance. Fifteen or so people, some old, some new. Beer and pizza and other potluck friendly food stuffs had been brought, grazed upon. He'd spoken passionately about how the monarchy is a fascist regime that favors the rich and well connected and tramples on the rights of the poor and downtrodden. He uses the witch registry as an example of blatant fascism - first they come for the witches! Whom will they come for next? They are using fear to control the populace! He doesn't outright take credit for the bombing of the mansion being constructed for the king's mother, but he speaks righteously about the noble destruction of property in the name of DEMOCRACY! He brings several impoverished denizens of Larket to the front, where they can share their stories of oppression or rudeness at the hand of the king or queen and their regime of flatterers and sycophants. The meeting ends with an impassioned plea to recruit more to their cause (in particular they need funding, a fact that Tychus softpedals). Tychus raises his fist in the air, and others mimic the gesture, in solidarity. The meeting ends, and some disperse, others hang around to finish the pizza and beer and talk and conspire. The air is crackling with populist sentiment. Tychus is just fresh off a conversation and heading to grab the last beer but Valrae seems to have the same thought, or at least is in the same space so he assumes. He gestures that she should take it. "All you, newbie."

Valrae listened to Tychus speak with keen interest. After all, the witch had serious reason to fear and dislike Larket's monarchy. Queen Josleen had recently taken it upon herself to bully Valrae into the new call for 'Witch Registration' and even went so far as to strongly suggest her joining some 'research' project on her. These reasons and a growing fear for her people had her searching out this meeting. She was trying her best to look casual and less witch like. She wore Hudson's Cubs cap, a loose tunic and cotton pants tucked into tall boots. No jewelry, no crystals, and no book. Val was incognito. However, she was surprised to find the spearhead for such a movement was so young, never mind she wasn't very many years older herself. The woman had agreed with most of his points and if her reading of the small crowd told her anything, they did too. An older man next to her was scowling, "They aren't even Larket born! Why should they rule us!" Afterward, she'd moved to the refreshments and was reaching for the last beer when movement in her peripherals stopped her. Tychus graciously offered her the beer and she took it. "Thanks," She pressed the bottle to her lips and took a long drink. "It's kind of you to take up for witches. Some of us think they're dangerous." Her kohl-lined, dark eyes watch him closely as she waits for a reply. Was he really interested in the injustice of the witches or did he just want bodies for his movement?

Tychus looks at Valrae with clear-eyed conviction. "Propaganda," he pronounces the word with pleasure. "Pretty sure the world has existed in a peaceful state for a long time with witches in it and somehow only now we're concluding they're dangerous. That's a big red flag to me," he remarks, going after the cooled pizza since there's no more beer. He folds his slice in half to eat it. Grease runs onto his shirt but he doesn't mind. He talks with his mouth semi-full: "They're trying to instill fear in the people of Larket so that they can do whatever they want under the guise of 'only they' know how to protect Larket." He grunts derisively, considers Valrae anew. Perhaps she's one of the people afraid of witches and he'd come out the gate swinging a bit hard. She doesn't look fired up, though, she's hard to read. "Also I know some witches," he offers a more human angle, rather than mere principle, "they're nice people. Not sure why they're singled out as opposed to mages or .. literally any other magic user. Total bunk if you ask me." He nods at her Cenril Cubbies hat. "Larket Mets fan myself, but I'm happy they finally got to win."

Valrae keeps her face curious but passive on the issue, even if the corners of her lips twitched in a suppressed laugh. She took another drink and considered him again. "Oh, I'm inclined to agree. I've never had a problem with witches before." She watched him fold his pizza and wrinkled her nose. Only monsters fold pizza. "Well, I'm from Cenril so I'm bias." She smiled sweetly but watched closely again to gauge his reaction. Was he interested in help from citizens who weren't Larket born or was he a purest? "If you don't mind my asking, what is the point of these meetings anyway? I mean, do you plan to do anything about it or is this just a place to come and complain?" The witch kept her tone light and curious, added a little air of confusion and naivety for good measure. If she was right, and these people were interested in more than complaining, it would be good for her and some of the other women, other witches, to be involved. They were going to make a stand and the resistance would make a powerful alli.. If they proved to be trustworthy. But it wouldn't do any of them any good if he decided she was asking these questions for a different, royal cause. Valrae hoped her slightly concerned, ditzy citizen act would carry her through until she could fully show her hand.

Tychus chuckles into his pizza as Valrae wrinkles her nose, identifies herself as Cenril born and raised. He assumes her reaction is about baseball. "Yeah, well don't blame you for staying true to the Cubs, being a Mets fan is pain," he says. He's thinking: A HOT WOMAN who likes baseball. She is his SOULMATE. Even though she is a Cubs fan, and objectively the Cubs have always had a really killer team so it never made sense that they won, they were the least underdoggy of underdogs ever... Anyway. She doesn't want to talk about baseball, apparently. He can impress her with his rugged revolutionary skills. "To agitate," he replies. "Look, democracy is dead - these people killed it. I'm not interested in always staying on the right side of the line -- there's real stakes here -- I'm interested in sending a message and standing up for what's right. There are many of us who engage in peaceful protests and what happens happens." He waves to a woman who passes them to say goodbye. "See ya, Suzy," he says, his attention reverting to Valrae a beat later. He lowers his voice, his expression turning earnest. He hasn't shaved in a couple days but there's no beard action. Can't exactly propose to commit property damage to a woman you've just met right off the bat. "So yeah like there's a lot of opportunity for involvement," he says, considering her. All the same, he's just 19 and fired up, and an idiot because she's a hot woman who likes baseball and now he wants to impress her. "I mean if you wanna peaceful protest we got you, blow up a building I got you, you know." He shrugs, like it's a joke (it's not), and then reaches into his pocket for a cigarette. "Smoke?"

Valrae laughs and takes another sip of her beer. Any knowledge of baseball she had would have come from Hudson, a fact that would probably make her significantly less attractive to the young revolutionary in front of her and one that she conveniently keeps to herself. Her golden brow arches at his reply but she keeps her comments to herself as Suzy stops to say her goodbyes. Quickly, her dark eyes survey the space to find that the small crowd has already thinned considerably. Good. When he lowers his voice, the witch finds herself leaning in slightly. Her golden ponytail slips over her shoulder but her attention is zeroed in on him like a hawk might a rabbit. "So you might know who's handy work might have been at that estate?" He could always be blowing smoke, claiming something he had nothing to do with to seem more legitimate, so she was still feeling cautious. Val took the cigarette offered. She brought the tip to her lips, gently blowing like one might do to blow out a candle, and it lit easily. Time to play her hand. She took a drag and eyed Tychus. "Because I'm looking for someone willing to protest just a little less than peacefully," A pause. "And I'm not alone."

After handing one to Valrae, Tychus helps himself to a cigarette. "Yeah, that was me," he boasts in a lowered tone. Maybe it's the attractive woman who likes baseball effect that causes him to just spill his guts. Maybe also he's beginning to think he can really start something. Here's someone who thinks just like him. (Unless she's a mole, in which case, crap/oops, at least he goes down in a blaze - pun intended - of glory.) He blows smoke away from them, eyeing Valrae as she puts her cards on the table. "Alright," he agrees, his gaze connecting with hers. "We're going to do a little something for the facists' little fair soon," he speaks slowly, watching her expression. "Send a little message. How can you help?"

Valrae makes herself comfortable on a relatively clean part of the table that held the resistance refreshments, just wiggled her bottom onto the table and sat her half empty and warming beer beside her and crossed her legs. Why not? The pizza was gone and almost everyone with it. So, she made herself comfortable and took another hit of her cigarette. "To start, I have a bit of talent with brush and pen. You could ditch the kiddie doodles and scribbled flyers - no offense." Her lips tilted into a teasing smile. "And you shouldn't underestimate the power of beautiful propaganda." She paused to drink her beer, made a face because it was warm, and tossed her pony tail. "And I'm a witch. A relatively talented one, with a hand full of craft sisters who are willing to get their hands dirty and show the crown exactly where they can put the 'witch registry'."

Tychus snorts out smoke from both nostrils as Valrae tells him to ditch the 'kiddle doodles.' "Alright, well, let's see what you can do," he says, his mouth pursing in the beginnings of a smile at her proposal. He gives her a once over now with this knowledge that she's a witch. He wouldn't have known just by looking at her. "A witch who likes baseball and has some witchy friends," he comments, amusement glinting in his eyes when he looks at her. He extends a hand, clasping hers, formalizing their alliance. "Let's show the monarchy what's up."