Remove ads

The Lost Files (C:TL/Dresden Files) (CK2-ish)

Reader mode
Vote tally:
##### 3.21
[X]One Way Alone
No. of votes: 1
Sweece

[X]Expanding Operations
No. of votes: 1
Sweece

[X]A Craftsman's Promise?
No. of votes: 2
Sweece, veekie

[X]Piratical Intelligence
No. of votes: 2
Sweece, veekie

[X]Up And Down The River
No. of votes: 1
Sweece

[X] Finding Jason A Home
No. of votes: 2
Sweece, veekie

[X] Rehabilitating Eva
No. of votes: 2
Sweece, veekie

[X]On The Trail of Werewolves
No. of votes: 1
Sweece

[X]A Talk
No. of votes: 2
Sweece, veekie

[X]Situating Jonathan
No. of votes: 1
Sweece

[X]Jacques' Request
No. of votes: 2
Sweece, veekie

[X] Plan General Damage Control
No. of votes: 5
veekie, nixter, Captain Hunt, karmaoa, Nicklance

[X] The Rogue Agent
No. of votes: 1
veekie

[X][Stoneguts] Rescue Mission
No. of votes: 1
veekie

[X] Finding the Hidden Cache
No. of votes: 1
veekie

[X] Repairing the Network
No. of votes: 1
veekie

[X] The Letter Of the Law
No. of votes: 1
veekie

[X] Play Me A Tune
No. of votes: 1
veekie

[X] Anthropological Extrapolations
No. of votes: 1
veekie

[X] A Cult Classic
No. of votes: 1
veekie

[X] Hanging With Stoneguts
No. of votes: 1
veekie

[X] Plan Neptune
No. of votes: 3
Neptune, Tasoli, Zoxabels
 
Remove ads
Turn/Week 6--A
  • Threadmarks
    • Turn 6--A

    Cora Graves could have in fact read more books on the subject before confronting Jonathan. She could have researched all week, and come to him with a whole host of arguments. After all, the statistics on the importance of safe sex was readily available, at least in terms of the efficacy of condoms and the problems that in fact plagued certain such actions.

    There was a factual hypocrisy there in one sense. She had practiced continuously unsafe sex, had probably shared needles, and it was more a fluke than anything that she did not die young. In fact, without her trip to Arcadia, as much as she hated it, she wouldn't have survived to see Jonathan grow as old as he had. She wouldn't have managed to push through her desire and her addictions.

    The first week after she'd been taking, wondering the halls free the dead, she'd been strung out. She'd been angry and irritable and she hadn't been able to sleep, growing gaunt and then pale and eventually dead with it. And that wasn't counting the booze DTs, and the issue with the heroin…

    There was a reason that she only drank a little and had not tried anything like that again.

    So, she could have taken her time, instead...instead, with how busy she knew she was going to be, she decided to hurry.

    And that hurrying had already led to mistakes, even as it launched several investigations into the aether. She had set her best people onto the Fiddle matter, and a team of lawyers on the Accords, and she was going to oversee both personally.

    Eva, on the other hand...wanted to go abroad, because she felt as if she was feeling something that might draw her away. For the moment at least, Cora Graves was not sure whether this was a good idea or not, but it would be a risk, and more than that, Cora needed to have Eva on her side. Ultimately, in fact, the more she thought about it, the more she thought the request, that she be allowed to go abroad, was premature.

    Buddhism wasn't a faith which could only be practiced at one special location, and so she felt as if Eva was making a mistake, a big one.

    And on top of all of that, Jonathan came back home to see her sitting on the couch and said, "Mom, what is it?"

    She stood up and said, "I've...well, I know that you and Jason have been...having sex."

    Her father had called AIDs the Gay Plague. She had watched and known people who died of it. Many people, because that was back during the 80s, when it really was a plague.

    "W-what?" Jonathan said, "Mom, it's not--"

    He was blushing, and he shifted a little as she pressed the point, "I just want to make sure you're employing emotionally and physically safe."

    Jonathan frowned and stepped forward, "You mean, using a condom?"

    Of all of the images she didn't need right now, dealing with a dozen fires at once, this was not one of them. In fact, everything related to Jason "Smiles" and his relationship with Jonathan. "Yes. Among other things. Just keeping safe generally, making sure to get tested regularly for STDs, commonsense measures that--"

    "I know about, mom," Jonathan interrupted, and if it were other settings she would have given one of her icy smiles and shown him his place. But then, Jonathan was always special. She'd known when he was too young to think of boys or girls or anyone like that, or like anything at all. And now he was...in a sexual relationship.

    It wasn't like what she'd gotten into. Freebasing while running the bases, A-bombs and back to backs, a pure pharmacy of polydrugs, nonsense and twaddle in its worst forms. She'd gotten clean...or clean enough, while she was pregnant. But she'd drank, every now and then, though luckily it hadn't seemed to have done anything. At the time she might have thought it did, despite her knowledge now of the human body.

    And then, once he was gone and adopted out, she'd gone right back to it...right into the arms of a True Fae, as it turned out.

    "Still, there are things to cover. I was sexually active as well when I was your age, but I made a lot of mistakes," she said.

    "I know, I know. You drank a little too much, at a few too many parties, and it caught up to you," Jonathan said, as if reciting it by rote, "And you briefly sobered up to have me, and then went right back to drinking, but you're not that...."

    Cora Graves shook her head, "One day, Jonathan, I'll actually tell you the truth the first time you ask it. I did worse than that, but what matters is that you don't seem to be making my mistakes, but now that you're having sex, you still need to be careful. With your emotions, as well. It's easy to get invested in someone once you're…"

    Again, she trailed off. It was once more an annoying fact of her life that she wasn't the person with her son that she was with literally everyone else.

    "Having sex with them?" Jonathan asked, blushing.

    "Yes. Not that I think it's…" Cora began, "Just…"

    "Mom, if you use Mr. Stoneguts as an example, I'm running up into my room and listening to loud music," Jonathan said, gravely.

    "As is your right as a teenager," Cora said, managing to recover, just a little bit, "So allow me to just run through a few salient points."

    They made it about halfway through when Jason arrived to see what was going on...at which point Cora Graves began to reconsider whether she should give this full talk to both of them when they were together. It was probably overreach, and so she allowed a grateful Jonathan to skip off, with a, "Dinner in an hour, and if you have homework, get to it!"

    Jason stood there, nervously, rubbing at his scar. He still looked as thin as he had gotten in the few days of torment, and there was something a little high-strung now about him. Not as bad as it could be, but enough that she wondered if it'd stick with him forever. He blanched and edged back from her, but she only turned away and said, "I'll be looking for an apartment for you soon, if you don't mind."

    "N-no ma'am," he said, quietly, and she stalked off to do some work.

    *****

    Of course, she also called Stoneguts, of course she did.

    "It sounds rough," Stoneguts said. "Then again, I would not know how to talk about a son I don't have about my drug use, let alone working my way through…" He trailed off, and the point was made, quite logically. Of all of the people who had problems, it probably wasn't Jonathan, as long as they used condoms.

    He used a condom? Cora had no idea which of them...or whether they took…

    She had no idea and no inclination to know.

    Stoneguts point was that if anything she was the woman with problems and issues, and that'd always be true. So maybe she should trust him. "I know what you are implying. And it is true. I am not always…"

    A good mother? A decent mother? The sort of mother she was supposed to be?

    "What were you going to say?" Stoneguts asked.

    "A good mother. As good as Jonathan is as a son."

    "What about that time he ruined your stove trying to make a mud pie?" Stoneguts asked.

    Cora found herself smiling. After a certain point, even the things that had made her furious--though she had hidden it well--became funny. It might not have been if she'd been worse off, of course, instead of independently wealthy. "Hey, he's a good kid regardless. And of course that is your point," Cora said, drolly.

    "You know me too well," Stoneguts said, and there was something like regret there, "I'm going to be a while longer. I have two people to rescue."

    Cora pushed away all other thoughts, and nodded, "Have you thought about how to get to them?"

    "I have," Stoneguts began, "And…"

    How does he get to the Nevernever? (Choose a first choice and backup if it falls through)

    [] Gabriella is exhausted, and yet perhaps she could be convinced to help them return, since it should be nearby, being in New Orleans and all.
    [] Search New Orleans for another Wizard or the like, perhaps willing to help out...maybe with Gabe's pleas added to it all?
    [] Return quickly to St. Louis to look for someone capable of opening a rift.
    [] Write-in.

    Besides another Winter Court team, who is brought along? (Choose 1)

    [] Summer court fighters.
    [] Fall court Sorcerers.
    [] Some people from down in New Orleans, some mercenaries.
    [] The Carnival Court owes relatively little to Marble Arch, but little is not something.
    [] The Liturgical Courts owe a little more to Marble Arch...though in rejecting the somewhat connected Faith Court, Cora Graves might have made Stoneguts job harder, despite the relative credit he has with religious Changelings in general.

    *****
    A/N: And so, here we go. Some good rolls, some incredibly bad rolls, including a total failure on the Eva roll.
     
  • Threadmarks
    • [X] Search New Orleans for another Wizard or the like, perhaps willing to help out...maybe with Gabe's pleas added to it all?

    [X] Summer court fighters.
     
    [X] Search New Orleans for another Wizard or the like, perhaps willing to help out...maybe with Gabe's pleas added to it all?

    Time runs differently between Nevernever and the World so we should get them back as fast as possible.

    [X] Fall court Sorcerers.

    Mainly to actually find them in the Nevernever.
     
    [X] Search New Orleans for another Wizard or the like, perhaps willing to help out...maybe with Gabe's pleas added to it all?
    -[X] If that fails, there was that Wizard mentioned in Chicago to try.
    [X] Summer court fighters.

    We HAVE heard of Harry once. I think.
     
    [X] Search New Orleans for another Wizard or the like, perhaps willing to help out...maybe with Gabe's pleas added to it all?
    [X] Fall court Sorcerers.
     
    Does anybody have any ideas on the relative advantages of the possible advantages of the various options for aid? I'm not familiar enough with C:TL to really have any idea why we should pick any specific option.
     
    [X] Search New Orleans for another Wizard or the like, perhaps willing to help out...maybe with Gabe's pleas added to it all?
    -[X] If that fails, there was that Wizard mentioned in Chicago to try.
    [X] Summer court fighters.
     
    The Laurent said:
    Okay, so I have five votes. The vote closes tomorrow evening, though I do wonder if this is maybe dying. *shrugs*
    Click to expand...
    Click to shrink...
    Have you considered putting it up on SB additionally or alternatively?

    Though I'd say some of the disinterest springs from:
    (a). After nine months running, none of the major practical or metaphysical questions of the crossover and its effects have been answered.

    (b). It is told mostly from the POV of an unflappable, internally monologing, Nietzsche-esque utilitarian; who averts most of the more colorful, whimsical and delightfully weird aspects of the Changeling state.

    (c). The DF side of the crossover receives minimal narrative focus, beyond its capacity for serving as a backdrop and setting for the Changelings adventures.
    When it comes crossovers not everyone who tunes in is going to be a fan of both sides; so some effort should be made to indulge fans of both settings (especially if one of the settings has actual canon characters). As things stand most of the interesting events in DF haven't happened yet and the main character of DF (Harry Dresden) seems to be more or less irrelevant.
     
    Sweece said:
    Have you considered putting it up on SB additionally or alternatively?

    Though I'd say some of the disinterest springs from:
    (a). After nine months running, none of the major practical or metaphysical questions of the crossover and its effects have been answered.

    (b). It is told mostly from the POV of an unflappable, internally monologing, Nietzsche-esque utilitarian; who averts most of the more colorful, whimsical and delightfully weird aspects of the Changeling state.

    (c). The DF side of the crossover receives minimal narrative focus, beyond its capacity for serving as a backdrop and setting for the Changelings adventures.
    When it comes crossovers not everyone who tunes in is going to be a fan of both sides; so some effort should be made to indulge fans of both settings (especially if one of the settings has actual canon characters). As things stand most of the interesting events in DF haven't happened yet and the main character of DF (Harry Dresden) seems to be more or less irrelevant.
    Click to expand...
    Click to shrink...

    Not sure what to do about that, honestly. I mean, open to suggestions, but...

    (Also, I was actually *going* to have Michael show up, but you sorta averted that.)
     
    The Laurent said:
    Not sure what to do about that, honestly. I mean, open to suggestions, but...

    (Also, I was actually *going* to have Michael show up, but you sorta averted that.)
    Click to expand...
    Click to shrink...

    Well, maybe a few Worm-style interludes whose alternative POVs help give a broader picture and perspective of what is going on?

    Or perhaps a few in story events or even catastrophes that don't involve rolls and/or votes; but rather what will take the quest in a cool and entertaining direction?

    For example:
    The Laurent said:
    Traitorous Changelings, on the other hand? Do exist, though the rolls have been good for them not blowing anything major open yet. But that's definitely a path/route that the Red Court is going to pursue/is pursuing.
    Click to expand...
    Click to shrink...
    I do not think this is the sort of thing that should be rolled on. Rather it should rely on when and how success or failure will provide the most drama or take the story in an interesting direction.
    The actions of NPCs are usually only worth rolling for when they are directly interacting with the PCs.
     
    Sweece said:
    Well, maybe a few Worm-style interludes whose alternative POVs help give a broader picture and perspective of what is going on?

    Or perhaps a few in story events or even catastrophes that don't involve rolls and/or votes; but rather what will take the quest in a cool and entertaining direction?

    For example:

    I do not think this is the sort of thing that should be rolled on. Rather it should rely on when and how success or failure will provide the most drama or take the story in an interesting direction.
    The actions of NPCs are usually only worth rolling for when they are directly interacting with the PCs.
    Click to expand...
    Click to shrink...

    Well, we'll see. Some of it is that while I like continuing this, or at least as a general thing, it's also, hrm. It's kinda not my highest priority? Like, I have four Quests, two fics, and I'm writing an RPG, possibly. So it's like, I'm sorta stretched as-is.

    I mean, so things I try also have to run up against an impossible time barrier as it currently exists. It's enough to sorta discourage me.

    Edit: Sometimes I worry that I stress too much about this stuff. If it's not working, I dunno...
     
    Last edited:
    I mean, open for opinions/thoughts/etc. I think there might be a flaw in the weekly format, or...any number of things, but there's not really anywhere to go with it in the short-term that doesn't involve remaking the entire system/devoting a large amount of time to this Quest.
     
    But yeah, still open for stuff, though now's not the time (feeling sick and overworked) to really think about it and not get exactly the sort of answers you'd expect from a sick and overworked person.
     
    [X] Search New Orleans for another Wizard or the like, perhaps willing to help out...maybe with Gabe's pleas added to it all?
    and for our backup plan.
    [X] Gabriella is exhausted, and yet perhaps she could be convinced to help them return, since it should be nearby, being in New Orleans and all.

    [X] Summer court fighters.
     
    Reader mode
    You must login or register to reply here.
    Remove ads
    Back
    Top