Annie November walked through the streets of Vienda, hands jammed into her pockets, face darker than a category five hurricane. The nerve! The absolute nerve of those...those...Annie couldn't think of an insult deserving of the galdori at the moment, but when she did, she'd be sure to think it right and proper. What were they going to ask next, that the papers start making up stories and facts so the readers would 'feel better about themselves'? Write up fake news to make the wicks and humans happy about being considered less-than-desireable? Heck, why don't they just make life easier on everybody and get rid of every newspaper, ever? It would sure save a lot of trees...

Without realizing it, she'd wandered down the street where the bakery was. Well, I am getting a bit hungry. I'm due some lunch.

There was something different, though. The street was oddly quiet. There were usually a few carts being pushed along, and a child or two running after its mother. But today...nothing. Not even a birdsong. Wonder's what's going on around he--

Annie stopped in her tracks. She stood in front of the bakery, or what was left of it. Instead of the scent of fresh bread wafting through the windows, there was the faintest smell of acrid smoke and burnt timber. The building had been reduced to a hulking black mess, a shell filled with decay and ashes. Annie's jaw hung slack, and without realizing it, she'd removed her fedora and was now crushing it between her fists.

"Holy hellsfire. What in the gods names happened here?" she asked aloud to the very empty, very deserted street.

Tito scratched his neck and turned slightly, hearing a very familiar voice. He was dressed in his normal get-up: a sleeveless purple shirt and baggy pants. His guitar was slung over his shoulder with one hand firmly gripping the neck, and a sack hung loosely in the other.

"Annie!" He called jogging closer to the reporter. "Hell's been here and gone since you left. It was burned to a husk while you were gone, and most suspect arson." Suddenly, he looked a little nervous as his eyes shifted away. "You'd best talk to Fion if you want more details, I wasn't around when it went down."

"Yeah...yeah, I can see that. But...why? What'd they ever do besides bake greatness?" Suddenly her eyes flew wide. "Tito! Hania, Jott, Emme! Are they ok, is everybody alright?!" She grasped the man by his shoulders. "Tell me they're ok! Tell me they made it out!"

Fion walked into the shopping district humming happily under her breath. It had been difficult to walk past the bakery the first few times but it was getting easier. She approached it with a sigh.

Demkaih had given her flowers yesterday. She looked at the ground and let herself smile softly again.

Fion looked up and saw Tito grasping Annie by the shoulders. Annie was home! Fion walked over and bowed politely to Tito and then to Annie.

"Hello Tito, I hope you're keeping well." Fion said, smile becoming tighter as she turned to Annie, hopeful and worried, "Annie, it's so good to see you home safe. Jott and Hania are fine, don't worry, so is Emme. I'll tell you more later. D-Do you have any news?"

Annie breathed a sigh of releif. "Oh, I'm so glad to hear that! If something had happened to any of them..." she trailed off. You'd never forgive yourself, right? You're still holding onto the notion this is somehow your fault, aren't you?

The reporter smiled, albeit slightly forcibly, and gave Fion a short friendly hug. "News. Yes." She stepped back and looked her in the eye. "All is well. Everything is as it should be. Things have been set into motion that can't be reversed. It's...complicated. Too much to explain here, now." Annie looked around, for the first time ever being conscerned over who could overhear them. "Is there a place we can talk? I have something to tell--and ask--you. And I'm gonna want some details on..." she sighed, "...whatever I've missed."

Annie turned back to Tito. "Thank you for filling me in. I appreciate it." She smiled and waved as she and Fion turned to leave. "We'll see ya around, then, alright?"

Tito was surprised. Emme. He had heard of her, Scarlet had mentioned looking for her. Though, he hadn't heard she'd been found, and he has really good hearing. However, from what Fion said, she was find. His eyes thinned as he smiled at Annie. "Yea yea," He said swinging his guitar back on to his shoulder. "It's not problem at all, glad you made back safely, Annie."

Fion clasped a hand over her heart.

"Thank Alioe, I was so worried he wasn't ok."



Fion gladly followed Annie's lead, overjoyed at the thought of hearing more about her uncle and Dorhaven. She was more than happy to tell Annie whatever she needed to know.

She inclined her head once more at Tito as they left.

"Goodbye Tito." She said, turning to follow Annie.

"We should go to my house, just let me get a few things first." Fion whispered, "It's easier than finding somewhere here."

"Sounds like a plan to me. Lead the way!"

*(I know teeechnically we're going to a different location, but I don't feel a need to start a new thread for one that's barely written in.)*

((Nah, keeping it in-thread is neater))



Fion quickly grabbed some vegetables from market. She still had some meat at home in the cold box that hadn't spoiled, it would do for dinner. She lead Annie back to her house, through the winding side-streets she used for short cuts. She made it home in record time, incredibly glad to see her front door when it came into view.

She directed Annie through the door quickly, though politely. She was full of questions that would hopefully now be answered. She hurriedly put her groceries away in the kitchen, throwing a piece of wood into the pot-bellied stove and filling her kettle with water.

She indicated for Annie to take a seat, sitting down herself as she did.

"What news have you got Annie?" She asked excitedly, forgetting to offer Annie a glass of water.

Annie followed Fion inside, sitting down across from her. She slouched out of her coat and doffed her hat, hanging it on the back of her chair.

"Well, for starters, the Dorhven Massacre wasn't a massacre. It was an accident, but I'll get to that later. The big news in town, though, is that I may be out of a job." She leaned back in her chair. "The Kingsway Post has been designated an Assistant Secretary of Liason, otherwise known as a government mouthpiece weilding a big red stamper what reads 'CENSORED'. Little guy, maybe two or three inches taller than meself, but danged if he ain't more intimidating than a hungry hatcher. I saw a stack of my editor's papers, and just about every single thing people have been turning in has been rejected. I doubt we'll be able to publish a decent paper any time soon, let alone tell any real news stories. My bit on Dorhaven? Out the window before I even had a chance to turn it in. We're stuck reporting on osta kittens and babies with candy, provided we talk about ostas owned by candy-eating golly babies."

Annie shook her head and sighed. "I ain't gonna stand by and let everybody think we're all still Happy Family when it's obvious somethin big's goin down. Them gollies think they can walk all over us wicks and humans? Well, it's high time they got their shoes a bit dirty and realized we ain't so easy to trample over." She leaned in closer. "I want in, Fion. I know I always told myself I'm just the casual observer and I just report on what goes on, but hells if I ain't gonna tell the real truth instead of what they want to force feed everybody around. Word is somebody's got a press somewhere, and I'm aimin to use it--anonymously, of course--to get the word out."

Annie sat back up, eyes narrowed. "I don't care what it takes, I just want the truth to be told. Think you can help me?"

*(I'm stalling on the Dorhaven bits til the thread I'm in with Nora and/or Tonan catches up and I actually 'find out' what happened. Otherwise, I'd be filling Fion in too.)*

Fion nodded.

"I wish I was more surprised. The galdori at work have been... Discussing censorship lately."



Fion thought about it.

"I might be able to." She said softly.

Fion got up and pulled the kettle off the heat, adding tea to a pot and pouring the water over it. She picked up a small strainer and two cups, placed them on the table.

"Please don't be offended by what I'm about to ask, I've just had a few scares lately," Fion said while pouring the tea, "How are you going to do this without getting found out? This is probably more dangerous than killing a man."

"You mean besides not using my name and moving around a lot?" Annie sat back, a curiously puzzled expression etched across her normally confident features. "I...well, to be honest, I hain't thought that far ahead. I wouldn't print too much, just enough to get it to whomever needs it most, then let the natural progression of talk and sharing get it spread more. Osmosis of the population, you might could say."

Annie accepted the cup from Fion, and watched the water swirling stray tea leaves around. "I feel like I been caged, Fi. Like I been locked up and can't say nothin. This ain't somethin I'm used to." She looked up suddenly, a horrific idea hitting her mind. "Fion...they...they ain't gonna make me...make me kill nobody, are they? I couldn't do that, no matter who they are. Oh, cripes, I'm gonna have to prove my worth." She hung her head. "I might be hard as nails when it comes to gettin the facts, but I'm dead weight in a fight."

"Maybe...maybe I could go undercover somehow, to garner information or somethin. Think that would smooth some feathers? I could do something unexpected like that, I think. Ugh, this is all goin too fast. Things are happening that never should, ever. Willy, the bakery, Dorhaven...none of this woulda happened if the gollies were like the ones from other places. I've heard stories, peace between all the races, respect and honor. Why can't we have that here?"

"Diffusion," Fion said after a moment, "How do you know you can trust those that read your paper? How would you distribute it? I'm not trying to dissuade you but you need to go into this with a solid plan and an escape route."



Fion snorted, eyes dancing.

"Alioe no, you'll have to prove yourself but you're not a fighter. There are many ways to win a war and most of them don't involve violence." Fion patted her hand, frowning in sympathy, "You may need to get used to being fenced in though. It's better to be safe."

Fion took a sip of her tea.

"You get used to it."



"We don't have it because we didn't work hard enough for it and we all hate eachother. You can't build a good society on mistrust." Fion shook her head, "I don't think you should go undercover. The seventen and your new editor will probably notice. If you're exactly where you should be they won't immediately suspect you of anything untoward. I think some people have started to run already, the gollies at work are getting restless. You'll just have to make sure any information you use in an underground paper can't be traced back to you, specifically."

"I can help you with that, if need be. My hands are often tied but I think you're onto something with this and I'll help all I can."

The reporter knitted her brow in thought. "Hmm. I dunno, maybe use runners, or just leave stacks places, somethin like that. You've been around the block a bit, what would you suggest?"


Annie snorted. "I doubt that highly. I've been singin free so long, it'd be hard to make me a caged bird. Leastwise, willingly anyway." She took a sip of her tea, blowing on it first to cool it down. "What do you think they'd have me do?"


Annie's dreams of wearing an elaborate dancer's disguise were immediately smashed into a million and one pieces. Prolly wouldnta worked nohow, she thought. Remember Clock's Eve?

"Annonymity is my middle name! 'Annie Annonymity November' Heh. 'Sgotta nice ring to it." She took another swig of tea, forgetting to cool it first and pulling a face as she seared the entire inside of her mouth. "In the meantimes, there's a woman I need to talk to about a legitimate story on the Queen. My editor says she's still sick, and figures we oughta do a nice sap piece on her majesty's misfortune. 'Eliza Nebbins'. Works in the steel mill downtown, apparantly runs laundry for the queen herself. Heard of her? We figure on her knowin a thing or two, fill us in on the details and such. When it comes to writin a good sap piece, I'm usually the one for the job. I can make burnt bread look heroic."

"I suggest hiring someone to do it without giving them any details about yourself." Fion blew on her tea, "Or you could just put the papers in a conspicuous place, although that leaves you open to being seen and caught."



"I'm not sure. There's a rally coming up that you might want to go to, for new initiates. They might be able to give you a better idea."



"Annie, you're practically a celebrity. Most of the galdori know you and I've even heard some speak of you." Fion said, trying unsuccessfully to resist a smile at her exhuberance. "Believe me, you will have to be careful of walking too tall with so many eyes on you."



"I'm afraid I've never heard of her." Fion said, shaking her head slightly, "Doing a fluff story is an excellent idea though and a good way to show willing. If she can tell you more than your editor cares for, you can just keep it to yourself for later. The galdori would never even consider that she might have useful information, so she's a safe source if you only visit her once."

"I think I like option one better. One more degree of seperation, even if it costs a tad."


Annie nodded. "Sounds like a good idea. What're the details?"


She laughed, blushing slightly. Even if it was by a bunch of murderous gollies, it still made Annie feel happy to know she was being talked about. "Duely noted, Fion. I'll wear my hat low and my collar up, how's that?"


Annie nodded, taking another sip of tea. "You'd be surprised how much people will tell you if you let them. Everybody hates silence in a conversation, so if you just don't say anything they'll keep going til they've told you everything they know. It's a technique I've honed to the point of pride."

"I'll give them to you tomorrow." Fion wanted to finish this conversation first and maybe check if anyone in the resistance minded her involving a reporter. "Bare in mind that if you look like you're looking for a scoop while you're there, the answer won't be favourable."

Fion didn't want to say how unfavourable, she didn't want to scare Annie.



"I say you should buy another hat. Wear the normal one to work and the other one at night. The hat is an icon."



Fion smiled, smugly though not cruelly.

"Oh would I now?"

Fion leant back and waited for Annie to get what she was hinting at. They were almost in the same business, after all.

"Oh, no worries mate. This is for intelectual information only. There are some things what don't need spreadin beyond their intentions.


"Another hat, eh? Hmm...maybe I'll get one of those exotic ones what's covered in fruit. That way I can share with friends. Haha!"


Annie cocked an eyebrow and shot Fion a smirk and a wink. "Why, Miss Smith! What in Anaxas would a dressmaker know about gathering information? Surely none of your clients converse contraversially while being fitted for ballgowns? Haha!"

Fion raised a brow.

"You do know I work nights at the Paper Tiger, right?" Fion smiled sardonically, "If you end up working as an information gatherer, you'll probably be working with me."

Fion took another sip of her tea.

"Uh, maybe even for me." Fion said, looking away and blushing.

She tried not to let people know how valuable she could be. Knowledge was power.

Annie almost choked on her tea. Recovering nicely, she quipped "Oh, I bet you'd looove that! Haha! Dunno how I'd do in a bar, though. Ain't the Paper Tiger one of those 'nicer' taverns? Doubtful they'd care so much for a wick what uses bad grammar."

She tipped back her cup and finished off her tea.

"I suppose we'll just have to see, eh?"

Demkaih walked with his hands clasped behind his back. Not quite smiling, but not scowling either, he was having a pretty good week. The house was coming along nicely, he only had to fix the stairs and then he could start working on setting up shop. The upstairs area wasn't exactly complete, but he didn't expect many people to see that area.

He found his feet taking a familiar route, around the corner, down the lane and through the gate of the seamstresses house. Drawing himself up, he reached out and knocked on the door, hoping Fion was home.

"It takes a certain amount of specific skill to work in that bar. Believe me, your talents would be wasted there. Better to have you out among the normal people that know and trust you." Fion said putting down her cup.

"We'll see how it goes, we can keep changing plans until we find one that is good for you." Fion heard a knock on her door, she stood up from her chair, smiling at Annie, "Sorry, I have to go get that. If they come in we're just old friends discussing local gossip, know what I mean?"

Fion walked up to the door, turning the knob and opening it unhurriedly.

"Hello." Fion said, looking up to see Demkaih, her face lighting up, "Dem! I didn't know you were free today!"

Fion pushed the door further open and wrapped her arms around him.

Annie nodded. "Oh sure, sure, and did you SEE what she was WEARING?!"


Annie leaned back in her chair, curious to see who it was at the door. She heard Fion say a familiar name. Wasn't he that fella from the bakery, the one that took on that Dom fella? She saw Fion take him up in a hug and raised her eyebrows. Ain't that always the way, errybody's shackin up and I get half a room at a run down boarding house and a fern.

The dark man embraced her in return, a huge warm hug. Her reaction to him was always a wonderful feeling, it made him feel more important than just a spice merchant.

"My beautiful poppy, for you I am always free." He grinned and stood back.

"I finished the house today. I will be starting on setting up shop very soon. So, with the rest of the day off, I decided to come over. I am not interrupting you am I?" He asked, his eyebrows furrowing slightly, looking in to see a woman in a fedora leaning back to glance at him.

Fion beamed at him.

"No, not at all. I was just having some tea with my friend Annie." Fion took Demkiah's hand and directed him into her kitchen. "Annie, this is Demkaih, I think you two may have met the other day, Demkaih, this is Annie."

Fion wasn't sure just how to explain their relationship, boyfriend sounded too juvenile and courting sounded business-like. She settled for keeping their hands locked together and leaning against his sun-warmed arms.