A Truce With Stella

Characters in this scene: Glory, Silver, Stella, Chaska, Landis, Landis Jr

Location: Sanctuary

It was the next day, night soon coming down. Glory, Silver, and Chaska were at the entrance of Sanctuary, waiting for Landis to arrive. They were set to meet Stella later, having dinner over at the restaurant.

Silver leaned into the wall, tense. “Two people inclined to lose their temper at Stella? Possibly three, depending on you. I’m getting less sure of this idea.”

"Which is why I didn't invite Seamus. Not confident in him enough that he wouldn't try to shoot Stella in sight if he was here," Glory says, sighing. She then looks over to the Silver and Chaska. "And I hope I know the two you well enough that you won't make this more complicated than it needs to be."

Chaska looks to Glory. "I can hold my emotions and temper well. Despite the recent incident, hosting has given me experience in holding back remarks or actions that would make things go awry."

“Meanwhile I’m wondering if you really know me, partner-mine. Not making things complicated and doing my best to support you? Not always the same.” Silver shrugged.

Glory lets out a sigh. "Yeah, yeah. What about Landis? You think he can hold himself back? She did try to kill his son, and threatened to do the same with the rest of his family as well."

"I can be in-between Landis and miss Stella should it be deemed required. Though I wonder, should I lend my hat to him during this meeting?" Chaska nods his head up, and vaguely points to said hat.

Glory nodded. "That would be nice, thanks Chaska."

Silver shrugs. "I made it for you, so it should work better with you, but it might assist him if he doesn't mind the... patterning. I don't know how well he can keep his temper, but I believe he understands Hospitality and will not break it."

"We are in the Lady's Demesne, which was explicitly designed no-violence place. He should understand the risks are probably not worth the effort."

"Noted. Is there any other important details or vital bits of information I should be aware of, as to not fumble something important?"

"Sanctuary warns you before you fuck up, as long as you're actually paying attention." Silver gives Glory a pointed look.

She just shrugs. "Stella also might have some information regarding Grey. Me and Silver would like to also try and strike a bargain with her for something that could help us with him."

Chaska's head begins to wander in directions. "So attempt for ceasefire, and something to help with your situation with Grey are the main points then? Understood. Though, does Sanctuary have proper defenses, in a bad scenario where direct combat is to be made?"

"Yes."

"The Lady said that Sanctuary was her Demesne. And her office isn't too far from where we're going to meet Stella. That, and I'm sure she has some other guards in place to break up any fight."

"She publicised some. There are others. I believe there will be yet more by the time we're gone.

"The Lady is an older Practitioner from a Practitioner house. Dead and gone it may be, but I do believe before that it was powerful. Even what was mine is something to be concerned for, and its been dying for generations now. I expect that she could handle herself in a fight."

"Excellent. It would be somewhat foolish to have something like this undefended. And while we're here, I should probably let it be known that most subtle cues or expressions you make will probably be missed by me. Verbal confirmation would be preferred."

"Gotten distractible of late, have you?"

"Somewhat, but not exactly. I literally cannot see most facial expressions anymore."

"Really?" Glory says, turning toward him. She then quietly begins making a variety of goofy expressions in front of him.

Silver reaches out and smacks Glory on the back of the head. It's audible.

"I know you were doing something just now. Just because I cannot read your face doesn't mean I can't understand your tone of voice, or other minor forms of body language."

"Oops. Sorry. Just confirming."

“I’ll try to remember that,” Silver said. “Lots of things have been changing lately, haven’t they? And I don’t think they’re done yet.”

"Mm. Perhaps. You truly have fallen quite close to Winter, haven't you? I can see clearly."

Silver... winces. “My place in Glory’s demesne is colder than Autumn,” Silver murmurs, sounding almost ashamed. “My Glamour sticks and is slower to change, but I think is... more solid than it was.”

Glory looks at her with concerned surprise. "Wait, but I thought the Familiarship was supposed to stop that?! My Self and humanity would've kept you from going full-Fae, from falling into Winter, and be the perfect alternative from just cutting your Fae side out!"

Chaska's head stops wandering, and turns to directly face Glory. "Familiarship does assist in certain issues or parts an Other may have, yes. But as you said it yourself, it was stopped, not entirely removed. I do not know much of the nature of Fae, so perhaps she can rise from it to another Court, or perhaps not. In any case, try not to die, either of you."

“Indeed. I’m pretty stable, but the effects linger.” Silver shrugs. “I’d be having a harder time with Glamour anyway. Humanity doesn’t mix very well with my old style, and you sure supply me with a lot of it.”

"Damn. So no more shape-shifting, or at least as much from now on?"

“I can shapeshift if need be.”

"But not as well, I'm guessing? Such a shame." A high-pitched, valley girl voice spoke out. They all spun around toward the entrance of Sanctuary, where Stella Lawson Myers stood before them. She was dressed in a simple black-and-white silk cocktail dress, the same one she wore when she challenged Glory and Landis during the Worm Hunt.

Her hair was tied back in an elegant style, with diamond hairpin holding it back. Her make-up was also professionally done, with her smirking lips popping out in red lipstick under her signature heart-shaped sunglasses. By her side, she carried a small, but expensive-looking white purse. Kenny laid upon her shoulder, squeaking at them as she strutted up in her glittering red high heels.

Chaska leans into Glory, with his hand over where his mouth would be and stage whispers. "I was not aware she was this far off."

“Ah, Stella.” Silver’s tone was cool and frigid, rapidly recovering from her surprise. “You needn’t worry about my capabilities. How’s your keyboard? Manage to put it back together yet?”

Stella shoots her an unnaturally pearly-white smile. "Oh, it's been put back together wonderfully! Your Heartless friend didn't do that much damage to it. Tell, how is she? My friend Simon decided to pay her a visit, and, well, it's been a while since he was as cruel as was recently." She then lets out a mischievous giggle.

"Hello miss. Are we going to keep things civil and without combat? I do so want for things to go smoothly."

Glory could make out her eyes darting over to Chaska through her shades. "Oh, yes, I do agree to the rules of Sanctuary. No violence, no fighting. Oh, I should probably tell you, the Sentulska Sister all made a full-recovery. Their stomachs have all been successfully pumped of all the poison you fed them."

Unnoticed by anyone in the group, a tall man and a teenager enter the lobby via one of the elevators.

“Perhaps they’ve learned something about working with you,” Silver murmurs. “From what I understand, Simon’s rather suffered for his attempts to get at Skitter as well.”

They approach the concierge desk, confer quietly with the concierge and with each other, then part ways, the taller man heading up the stairs.  The teenager approaches, from behind Stella.

A small finger begins to wiggle out from Chaska's throat. "Ah. Seems the glamour is wearing off. Give me a short moment or few to remove it."

He grasps his throat tightly, squeezing and pulling hard, before the glamour breaks, tearing it off whilst simultaneously pale malnourished arms feebly flail out. He bleeds a bit.

"Whoa, metal!" You turn a bit to notice a lanky-looking teenage boy with chin-length brown hair and green eyes, gazing wide-eyed at the spectacle.

Chaska holds out the chunk of glamoured flesh towards Silver, making low gurgles at her.

Silver takes it, and clenches her hand; it disappears into shadow.

He's wearing a brown t-shirt with a spaceship and an Australian landscape on it, and a pendant of some dark stone. Hanging out of the pocket of his jeans are a few other loops of cord, perhaps to other pendants.  "Don't mind me; Justin Landis.  Good to meet the people he's worked with."

Stella gives a wide grin a wide grin to Justin. "Hello there, Justin. Is your father here? We're all currently waiting for him at the moment."

"He's at Sanctuary, yes.  But anything you of all people can say to him, you can say to me.  I've promised to get him the gist."  He smirks, thinly.

Glory raises an eyebrow. "He's not coming? No, wait, he's sending you instead? Kinda irresponsible of him, and that's me saying that."

Silver cocks her head, but says nothing.

Chaska hastily scribbles on his whiteboard. "Please be quiet for now, young Practitioner. Your Self, or soul can be accidentally offered if you act so cockily with such brazen confidence. Be careful with your words."

Stella leans over and extends her hand over to Justin, with a thin smile on her face. "Good to finally meet you in-person, Justin. I have heard quite a bit of from... and old acquaintance of mine. My name is Stella. Has your father told you about me?"

"Yes.  But even from his description, I pictured someone less..." He visibly discards a word before settling on "...flashy?" He ignores the hand, looking instead toward Glory. "Neutral ground, remember?  It's why she felt it safe to come. Besides, I understand that if she lays a finger on me Dad can swoop in and forswear her.  I do understand the concern, however.  I have no current intention of being anything but a messenger, and a reminder."

Glory nodded, and shot a look at Stella. "Yeah, this is neutral ground. No one can touch anyone else without provocation. Isn't that right, Stella?"

She just shrugged and just hand-waved her off. "Yeah yeah, I get it. No fighting here, just talking."

"Are we going to be standing around all day?" Silver drifts over to Glory, occupying her personal space. "I thought we were here for a reason."

Glory nodded. "Yeah, I reserved a spot a private spot where we can eat and talk. Let's go."

She led the group to Sanctuary's restaurant, where they all took seat in a corner spot. They all carefully took their seats. Glory and Stella were sitting directly across from one another.

Chaska moves so his seat distances Landis Jr and Stella just a bit more. "Silver, Glory. Both of you called for this, so propose your terms so hashing out can be made."

Stella then raised up a hand. "But first, it's dinner time. Frankly, I'm starving, and negotiation go much better on a full stomach. Kenny then hopped of her shoulder and grew into his full-form. He grabbed a chair and took seat next to Justin, towering over him.

"I will have a scallop sashimi, with a meyer lemon confit. I'm feeling rather Oriental tonight. Kenny here will have anything with a strong essence."

"Um.  French Onion Soup and a green salad for me please?  And an iced tea."

"Surprise me," Glory says, not taking her eyes off Stella.

"Nothing for me, thank you," Silver murmured.

The waiter, a homunculis of impeccable design (if seemingly purely for noncombat) nods, taking down notes.

"I'll have actual food this time. Salmon, grilled. Whole thing, including bone."

Stella smiled, leaning forward with her elbows on the table to look at Glory. "So, Aubrey," Stella purred. "I heard you've been having some trouble lately. Regretting not taking my offer so soon?"

Justin mimes coughing up a hairball.

"Not really," Glory states plainly. "Things weren't as bad they are now."

Silver leans back in her chair.

Chaska quickly changes to his familiar form, a large eagle, peering over the table edge.

"Well? Talk to me." Stella's smile is thin. "You wouldn't call if you didn't want something from me, would you?" Stella's tone is very, very light.

Glory glared at her. "You called me at the same as me, Stella. You want something from us as much as we do of you. Don't pretend you have the upperhand here."

Justin's eyes narrow with suspicion, and while the lighting doesn't change anyone looking could swear they saw lightning reflected there.  (A consequence of his Sight is that he can see if someone's attention is focused elsewhere than they're purporting)

"Pardon sirs, madams, and other folk. Your dinner is served." The homunculi says, three other homunculi in tow carrying plates and trays filled with food, the order finished inordinately fast - but perhaps that is to be expected of magical hospitality.

For those of human appetite, the aroma is absolutely intoxicating, a hint and prelude of the tasty morsels masterfully crafted and prepared by the kitchen staff.

"Any refills on drinks?"

Silver eyes the food wistfully, but says nothing. Her attention is nearly purely split between Stella and Glory, her expression calm but every line of her tense.

"Coke for me, please." Glory holds up her already-empty glass.

"Sweet tea for me." Chaska says.

The waiter nods, another homunculi coming by with exactly the drinks asked for.

"Same as before, please."  His drink is still halfway full.

One of the homunculi goes up to Lady Silver, carrying two small papers with her, one very normal and the other made of some well worn material.

The note simply says, *'Temporary minor curse suppression, good enough for one hour - my gift to you. Wear it on your upper thigh. Good luck tonight,*

*-The Lady of House Lim'*

The other is a paper talisman with Chinese characters on it of some kind. It seems on the border between mundane and magical. Another homunculi approaches, carrying a tray of what Silver ordered her first morning in Sanctuary.

"With that, we shall leave you to your meal but will be by for more refills. Please ring the bell if you need any return service." The head homunculi bows, deeply to the whole table, followed by the rest of the servers in unison.

Before she starts to dig into her meal, Stella’s head suddenly then perked up a bit. "Oh, silly me, I almost forgot! I brought presents for you all!"

She then reaches deeply into her purse, and pulls out a small gift-wrapped box. She hands them out to each of them. She then patiently waits for them to open. "Go on, go!" She excitedly urges them. "Don't worry, I'm still sticking to Sanctuary's rules here."

Glory hesitantly opens hers up, and peeks inside. She then frowns, and then scowls. "You're a fucking bitch." She growls, closing the box back up and putting under her chair. Silver notices her trying to subtly wipe away a few tears with out anyone noticing.

"I reserve the right to ditch this if it insults myself or Dad, by the way."  He does much the same as Glory.  (What's inside?)

Inside, is a new and very expensive-looking phone. It look's state-of-the-art.

He scoffs, but doesn't dispose of the "gift."  "Is this reparations I see?"

Stella shrugs. "You can make whatever you want from it. As far I know, there's absolutely nothing harmful in there."

Silver leans in minutely to Glory as she takes Stella's gift, glancing inside. For a moment, Silver represses the roiling mess of temper inside to let her affection be the thing bleeding through the connection, rather than the sour mess.

Inside Silver's gift, is dozens of broken little pieces of something. As she examines thee closer, Silver recognizes them as originally being a part of her old phone, before it was shot and destroyed by ted in New York. But it's now in far more pieces than it was then, like someone had tossed into a mechanical grinder. If there was any chance if it being rebuilt, it's long gone now.

"So much effort collecting this up, for me?" Silver sounds amused, shutting the box and sliding it into her bag. "I hadn't thought you cared about me so." Silver stabs a pigeon and eats it; she seems mildly fascinated by the fact she wasn't being assaulted mid-bite.

Chaska returns to his normal form sitting, and leans over to grab the box Stella gave him. He doesn't look down, but instead stares directly at Stella, opening the box while doing so. (Gacha box time)

Inside Chaska's present, was dozens of little animal skeletons. When he looked back to her, she just shrugged. "Kinda got lazy by the time I got to yours. Best I could come up with by then.

She then pulls out another present out of her purse, and hands it over to Glory. "Here's one for Seamus. Pass it on to him to him the next time you see him, alright?"

Glory just begrudgingly takes the gift, and put off to the side. She then sighs. "Well, can we start talking while we eat, at least?"

Justin puts the box down and takes another mouthful of cheese and broth-laden bread.  His eyes are back to their normal green.

Silver chews on a pigeon, swallows. "Ah, yes indeed. Lets find out what affects Stella Lawson Myers so badly that she actually tries to call us!"

Chaska reverts to familiar form, and hops onto the table, generally shoving whatever bit of salmon he tears off, fin, bone, and all.

"You first, Aubrey. Can you really afford to delay? You and Lyra only have so much time here, after all." Stella smirks. "Or we can delay, if you really insist. I know how stubborn you can be. And how far has that really gotten you?"

"No, no, no!  You don't get to control this meeting, Stella.  Talk."  Justin is very fed up with her gloating.

Glory is already digging into her meal, a rare steak with mashed potatoes and gravy on the side. She calmly cut into it and and ate a piece as she spoke. "It's simple. I'm taking your deal. We call a truce with each other. No more conflicts or fight between members of our respective sides until the business with Lord Grey is done."

Silver growls, very softly, nearly subverbal, metal scraping.

"And how are you going to make me talk, little boy?" Stella asks him, smile widening. "I didn't say a lie, and you know it." Stella takes a bite of her meal, lingering over it for a few moments. "And why should I take this deal now, Aubrey? After you've done me so much trouble refusing the first time. While you're weaker."

Glory continues eating her steak. She wipes her mouth a napkin, and speaks. "You're not in the best position either, Stella. I'm going to take a bet. A bet, that there are powers out there that are watching. I'm willing to bet one of them is the one that set you with Kenny here." She then jabs a thumb into Kenny's direction.

"Yeah, you could continue the conflict, and over a while, there's a chance that we'll lose. But you know what? If you do, we're going to fight like hell, from the start to end. Your resources will be whittled the longer you engage with us. And you want something from us too.

She then goes back to cutting into her steak. "So here's the deal. You're going to hear me out. And if you don't say whether you're going to accept it our side is done with our meals, then the deals off. We go back to fighting each other, just like we have been for the last two months." She then eats another piece of her steak. She's about a third of a way through it.

"Also, I don't need to do a damn thing but walk away and leave you to metaphorically twist in the breeze.  Glory's calling the shots.  Not you."  That last word is spoken with more heat in it than your average jalapeno.

Chaska stops pecking at his salmon and faces Stella. "Young miss I ask of you, can we not have peace, or some semblance of it? I wish to skip the pleasantries, nice as they are, as they are delaying what we have met for. Either we hash out terms for the agreement, or we don't.

Casualties may occur if we choose the second. I'd rather have a calm period of time than deal with the ostentatious conflict and combat I have dealt with until recently."

"Play nice with my princess, Stella," Silver murmurs, smiling. "Otherwise it might be us talking. And I'm not as inclined to be friendly, when we're dealing with you."

Stella's smile was still in place, but Glory noticed it twitch a bit, and her eyes quickly darting around at everyone else’s dinner underneath her shades. She then spoke. "Even if you were right on both our circumstances, I am still inclined to continue this conflict. I will win, and Grey's forces are in support of whoever you are enemies with. My victory is certain in continuing our little scuffle."

Glory didn't hesitate to answer back. "Really? You're going to rely on Grey to win this war? You yourself had once said that he's higher on your shit list then us. Now you're going to rely on his assistance to beat us? I thought you had more pride and self-respect than that, Stella."

Justin tilts his head oddly, then the lightning flash reappears in his eyes.

Silver calmly eats another pigeon, lingering. "Getting cocky there, Stella? Do you know, fear actually has a smell. I said you'd been brought down to our level, once. You're still here, just pretending you aren't - you're overdressed, Stella, showing off, but that sort of thing's all surface. Let's get a look at what's really going on."

"Stella. Please. I do not wish to take another's Self again. It can get messy. You are young, with years of life left. You don't want to have several people against you. Let me say this from experience."

Stella crosses her arms and raises her chin up, with a bit of a sneer on her face. "I'm a practical woman. I'm not as emotional or easily angered as you may think I am. I wouldn't have gotten as far as I have if I was. I am still more inclined to to keep on fighting rather call for a truce. Unless you have something more to give, we don't need to wait  until you slowpokes are finished. If you don't give me something more, I will leave once I'm done with this subpar sashimi."

She then ate another one of her scallop sashimi, and licked her lips, thinking contemplatively. "Hmph, I've tasted better in California. I expected better and more from a place that's hosted an Oriental Lady."

Glory takes another bite of her steak. "If you want more, I have it right here. A few week ago, I did a favor a place known as the City. You may have heard of it. In return, I was given the favor to invoke the Moth for up to three times, to escape from any situation or Realm that I wish, provided I am not bound, and be taken away to safety. One of those locations of safety may also be the City itself. I am willing giving you one of those uses for your personal usage, Stella."

"Emotional? Easily angered? Maybe not. Distracted, however, Stella?  I think you're very distracted at the moment.  Unless there's a perfectly normal reason why the spirit version of you is looking over her shoulder all the time."

Silver eats another pigeon. There's two left on her plate, and a full teacup.

Chaska seems to be having a staring contest with Kenny. He continues to stare while slowly moving to eat his salmon.

Stella was slightly taken, and took a moment to think in her seat. She ate another scallop. "The Moth. He has a very particular effect on Glamour, is that right?"

Glory nodded, not taking her eyes off her as she continues eating her steak. She was more than halfway through it and the mashed potatoes. "That's what I heard."

Stella sneers. "Just one use? I want two. Consider yourself lucky that I'm not asking for all three."

"You get one."

"I get two, or none at all." She eats another scallop. She was a third way through her meal as well.

"I already gave one to Silver. I don't have authority over it." Glory bites down another piece of steak.

"All the more, if I get it, then the bitch doesn't. If you can give it away, so can she. Or she can give it back to you, and you can give it to me."

"I already gave it to her. It's her choice to do what she wants with it." And at that, they both glanced over to Silver.

Silver takes a drink of her tea. Half full. She smiles at Stella.

“Twit,” she says, friendly. “Haven’t you noticed? I’m the one who doesn’t want this deal to go through. I have plans for you, Stella. Do you want to hear them? I was trained by Fae of Dark Fall, you see. I know how to make you hurt.” Silver pauses. “This is excellent tea,” she remarks. “Been a while since I had tea this good.”

"Soup's great, too."  Justin pipes up, taking another spoonful of melty gruyere and onion broth.

"Th steak is good," Glory says quietly. "The gravy as well. I don't even like mashed potatoes that much, but that's good as well."

"Care to trade some pigeon for a chunk of salmon, Silver? One tried to take some things of mine a while ago." The front half of the salmon is torn to shreds.

"Certainly!" Silver makes the trade calmly, still smiling. Glory can feel shivery anger underneath it.

Chaska plucks a pigeon, while pushing his plate to Silver, discarding the clean, cut portion of salmon to hers.

Stella just continues her scallops as well. Kenny is also eating something that none of them could identify.

"These are good ketchup-flavored chips," Kenny suddenly spoke up.

"That was quite a statement, earlier," Silver murmurs, pushing the salmon around but not actually eating it. "You push too far, Stella. Are you sure you want to keep on like this? Because I've rather gotten the impression that you might have gotten involved in something Fae, recently. And if you keep trying to piss off Glory, then I'll be even less inclined to maybe help you. And I know one or two things about the nobility of Fall." Silver takes a bite of her salmon. "Meal's starting to end, Stella. Tick tock. Maybe try to stop being difficult for a moment."

Stella glared back at her, still smiling. "Oh, you want to play hard ball, is that it? Well, there's one thing that you didn't calculate right in your projections here." She was talking, but a bead of sweat was pouring down the side of her forehead.

"Poker faces don't work on me anymore, Stella.  You can thank "Thomas" for the influences that led to that if he's ever dumb enough to stray into your striking range again. You need this escape hatch."

"That you're too stubborn to actually do something that's good for multiple people at once? Quite possibly. But if that's the case, then why are we even talking?" Silver takes a sip of her tea. "What really is the point of a bargain where only one person benefits? I'm getting bored, Stella. You might remember what I did last time I got bored in one of our conversations. Make a decision."

Stella growled, and she clenched her hands tightly under the table. "I know my choice. I do what I've always done. Move forward." She then takes off her sunglasses and glares right in Silver's eyes. For a moment, Silver is taken back. In her eyes, Silver sees a look she's seen before, but on someone else. For a moment, Stella almost-scarily resembles Glory, as Silver has once seen before. A look of an almost suicidal drive within. She wasn't going to budge, no matter what.

"Enough! I came here in hopes for a ceasefire, and instead I see young Practitioners squabbling and arguing with petty power plays." Chaska begins to walk around on the table.

"Miss Stella, I've had a town's worth of Practitioners and Others attempt a siege on my person. You don't frighten me. And honestly, Silver, Glory. I'm ashamed on your behalf. I come here in hopes for peace and rest, and instead find barely hidden threats to be your method of converse. Have some tact. I come here hoping for both sides to come to an agreement, and instead see what is evolving into another conflict."

"So, unless we are to violate hospitality and have ourselves a brawl, calm down, lest we bring the wrath of the Lady of this Sanctuary to our Selves."

Stella scowled toward him, but leaned back against her seat. She shut her eyes tightly, thinking for several long seconds.

"Fine," she finally scowls out. "I am willing to take the high ground. I'll take one use of the Moth from you. I'll accept the truce, as long as the terms are reasonable."

"Glory. Silver. What do you say?" Chaska eyes the pair, as one would to a child.

Glory nodded, and let out a sigh of relief. "Yeah, I'm willing to accept that."

Silver exhales. "I'm fine with this so far."

"Lovely. Now let's hash out the details. Child of Landis, do you have anything to add?" Chaska looks to the broth-loving Practitioner.

"Mm!"  Justin finishes his bite of salad.  There's very little of it left on the plate, but he's not quite done yet.  "If Dad were here, he might say that giving you any quarter whatsoever was a terrible idea that will eventually bite you in the ass.  Only, you know, he'd take a proverbial hot minute to say so. I'm OK enough with what's been given, and with knowing that you are a lunatic under a veneer of Bond-villain smarm.  Enjoy your get out of jail card, Stella.  I expect you'll need it."

Stella shrugged at him. She then turned to the rest of the group. "I'll accept the truce, but only under three conditions!" She holds up three fingers out to all of them.

First, there has to be a limit of membership. Anyone on "your side" is too vague and broad. If I were to fight or attack anyone, you could just bring them under your wing, and I can’t touch them. I cannot accept that. There has to be a maximum number of members on your team."

Glory nodded. "The highest number of our Tiny Alliance has ever been is seven. That seems like a reasonable number to keep the group, right?" She looks back to the rest.

"I'm already protected, I'm told.  At least from her.  I'm sure Dad would appreciate having that extra insurance, though."

"Make sure to include my Practitioner. Don't wish to be caught with such a foolish mistake." Chaska pipes up.

"But she's not asking to specify who the list is now, is she? And how about defining who is on her side? She seems to have a remarkable collection of people."

"If things aren't proverbially going South, can we get some dessert or something?" Justin asks, looking over to homunculus waiter.

"No. Please be quiet, Child of Landis,” Chaska shushes him. “Careful negotiations are being made. Perhaps a small agreement? We both share and or specify who is to be included, yes or no?"

"Practitioners and their Familiars will count as one and the same, fine, whatever," Stella handwaves Chaska away. She then turns and glares toward Silver. "And I work on a far grander scale than any of you. Even I can't list off everyone who's on "my side" off the top of my mind right now if I tried. This is a truce. If this goes through successfully, I swear I will not intentionally pursue harm against any of member of your group for as long as the truce lasts. The same will go for you. You don't need to know everyone on "my side" for that."

"So... what keeps you from doing the exact same thing you're worried about us doing? The whole just... taking someone as part of your side while we're in conflict with them so we suddenly can't go after them thing."

"It's just, I'm almost done, and she's almost done, and you're almost done, and I thought there was a time limit tied to the end of dinner...?" He says this sotto voce to Chaska.

"Later. Here, have a feather to play with or whatever." Chaska murmured, plucking a chest feather and dropping it at Justin.

"Perhaps we can come to a compromise, miss Stella?" Chaska says, louder. "Perhaps both sides are to have the same maximum limit which we both are required to name?"

Stella growls at him

"She doesn't want to set a limit on herself," Glory observes. "She wants to rebuild her power during the duration of the truce. Can't do that if you set a limit on her. Isn't that right, Stella?"

Silver sighs and leans her head on Glory's shoulder, leaving her food be. "Want me to be nice?" she murmurs softly. "I can figure out ways around my own problems that won't make her this upset, I think. I don't want to, but."

"I thought it was a valid point..." he grouses, but accepts the feather.

"How about this?" Stella says, exasperated. "If this truce goes through, I swear I will not intentionally recruit any Practitioner or Other under my wing with the express purpose of extending the protections of the truce to them to keep them away from you. May the spirits themselves strongly judge me and my own mind on this. If we do for whatever reason come into conflict with each other during the duration of the truce, then we will both try to talk this out and negotiate. Does that sound fair?"

"I'll ta - go along with that for a maximum group size of 11," Silver remarks.

"Then we are to accept the same swears, yes? Are all here in agreement?" Chaka looks around to those at the table.

Stella laughed at Silver's suggestion. "I have more than 11 Others in my purse right now! If I can't rebuild my power, then this truce is meaningless."

"For us. I wasn't asking about you." Silver rolls her eyes, not moving from Glory's shoulder.

Stella glared at her. "Seven members. That's the highest your membership has been, and that's how it will remain. You're still allowed to make deals with others to recruit them to one day fight me, but the protections will only extend to seven of you, not counting Familiars, which two of you already are."

"We're letting you expand without an actual limit. At best we're allowing our own group to expand by five, which we're unlikely to do anyway, I think. You're still winning with this concession, you're still getting more out of it. You do realise that, right? This is me scraping for just a little bit, while you're getting what you wanted."

"10 members in total. 11's a stupid number. That's more of a personal thing."

Silver growls, scraping metal. "Stella. The more you push now, over this, the far less inclined I am to play nice over things that matter."

"I'm willing to take 10," Glory states, also exasperated. She tries to pat Silver down. "Is that cool with everyone else?"

"Somewhat. Child of Landis, are you in agreement?" Chaska looks over to the young boy.

"Hoo boy. I guess?"  He's suddenly a bit deer-in-headlights as to the magnitude of what he might be agreeing to. "10 designated Others/Practitioners that will be covered by this truce?  Yes.  As part of the collateral damage of this conflict, I accept."

"Fine," Silver mutters, leaning into the pats.

Stella nodded. "Good. For condition two, Aubrey here is in charge. I am accepting this deal from her, and if she dies, or steps down from leadership, then the truce is over. For one to be a member of your Alliance, they must acknowledge Aubrey as the leader of it."

Glory glared at Stella. "You know about my eventual challenge with Seamus. This one is to screw with me, isn't it?"

Stella just shrugs.

Glory looks back to the rest. "I'll only accept it if everyone else here is willing to."

Silver growls, very, very, very low. "I'm incorporated under the Familiar point regardless. I'll accept this if I must."

"I am fine with it. Are we moving onto the duration of this agreement if there are no protests?" Chaska cocks his head as he says so.

Justin nods along. "I think Dad's already covered by that, so sure."

Stella nodded again. "Good. Now for condition three. We need to figure out the duration of the truce. The original extended offer specified when Grey's seed was dealt with, but that's rather vague isn't it?"

"Landis Sr. made a deal with Grey. All the seeds will be contained at one of points at Landis's Star Naming Ritual, once it is done. At that point, the seed business will be considered done," Glory said.

She then looks over to Justin. "How will that take? Did your father say?"

"He didn't.  I get the sense he's got a few proverbial cards up his sleeve that he doesn't want to slip."

"I can ask though!" He holds up his phone, its display now covered in notes about the peace terms.

Glory nodded. "Please do so."

Chaska looks back at Stella. "If we are unable to find out, how does 1 year and 1 day sound?"

He bites his lip, tapping out a brief message.  After a moment, his phone buzzes briefly and he retrieves the incoming text.  "Um... let me just quote him:  'While it is my intention to be reticent, my deal with Grey required a minimum period of 6 months before I can attempt to Name the Star.  It may be longer than that, because of certain acts of sabotage that happened after that negotiation.'"

"Eight months," Silver says, voice soft but carrying. "How's that?"

"8 months. I can accept that," Stella said, thinking. "However, a lot can happen in 8 months. Look what happened in just 2. So, enfolded into this condition, if either party wishes to break off the truce before the end of that date, then they must give the other 2 weeks notice before taking hostile actions against the other. Does that sound fair?"

Glory nodded. "That sounds good to me. What the rest of you?"

"Acceptable," Chaska agrees.

Justin nods along. "I think he'll be OK with that, giving a warning.  I'll add it to the list."  And he duly does.

Silver hums. "Sworn that the notice is given fairly and not hidden, and is very very clear about what it is, and the two weeks are from reception. Not requiring acknowledgement, but should someone send a letter..."

"Yeah yeah, I will," she says. she looks over to all of them. "Are we all in agreement then? Do you have anything of your own to add?"

"Off-topic, but might you know the whereabouts of a jar full of someone’s Self that was supposed to be meant for Silver and Glory?" Chaska asks casually.

Stella shrugged. "No, why? It get snatched by one of Grey's Fae?"

"Ceasefire was 'no hostile action', wasn't it?” Silver pipes up. “Are we including being aggressively snippy at each other in that?"

Stella rolled her eyes at her. "We're seriously banning insults now, are we? So you really are an SJW? You Fae are always so sensitive. The ceasefire means no physical or Practice-induced mental harm. There, you happy?"

"Twat. I'm not as reckless with my karma as you are, and I would like to know the exact limits of my capabilities." Silver considers Stella. "Justin. Could you check with your father if that wording is acceptable?"

"Oh boy.  Let me get it down. 'No physical or Practice-based mental harm done.' Is that right?"

"Physical harm or Practice-based mental harm is I believe the intent," Silver confirms.

He nods. "'No Physical harm or Practice-based mental harm.' Got it."

"Had to specify ‘Practice-based’ for mental harm, cause oversensitive bitches like yourself take insults and mocking way too personally"

"Miss Stella, please. Try not be slighted by young children or practitioners. It's not very good to react as so," Chaska calmly tells her.

The phone buzzes almost before he's done typing the correction.  "He wants me to, quote, 'kindly specify that attacks on businesses or economic holdings are also to be suspended for the duration.'"

Stella rolled her eyes again, and took a sip of her drink. "Fine, no physical, Practice-based mental harm, or financial or economic harm will be done to either party by the other during the truce."

Silver nods, rubbing her cheek into Glory's shoulder. "I believe I'm fine with those terms."

"OK.  Sounds good."

"Acceptable."

"Then we're good?" Stella says, sitting up straight. "Then let's shake on it." She extends her hand to Glory.

Glory hesitantly extends her hand out, and shakes Stella's hand. "Deal. I bestow upon you the right to invoke the name of the Moth. There are some details about it, but I'll text them to you later. For now, the truce is now officially in place."

"Dad's one of the people protected, right?" Justin blurts. He's slightly agitated.

"I cut him out of the team a few weeks before, but he's welcome to join back in, if he's willing to accept me as the leader," Glory says. She then sighs. "Man, Seamus is going to be a pain to deal with."

Silver smacks her head into Glory's shoulder, then straightens and raises her hand to beckon over the automaton.

"I'll ask him."  He's looking over the list of terms in his notes, poring over them, scanning for loopholes.

Chaska hops of the table, changing back to his normal form mid-fall.

Stella nods, and steps back. A smile then came back over her face. "Now, let's have dessert! I need something sweet to calm myself.”

She looks over and waves over the homunculus waiter. “I'll be having a sticky toffee pudding."

"I guess I’ll a hot fudge sundae." Glory says, sitting back down.

*"3 shots of vodka, if possible."* Chaska writes down.

Silver hums, tilting her head. "Ah, fuck it, I'll try the fudge sundae."

"...Black Forest Lava Cake, please."

As the waiters take down their desserts and head back to the kitchen, Stella flashes a big smile to them all. "Now, since we're no longer at each other's throats, how would you all like to hear my little proposition?"