Scene #7533: Squatters of Elfame

Owner	Pose
Vergil	It's a bit hard finding the place, really. The fae's directions are rather bad, asking responders to follow 'the scent of the rain in spring 'till it turns stagnant' and the like. The humans who live in nearby villages keep their nose clean of the Fair Folk's affairs, so they're not much help either. But fortuitously, it's apparent that these demons don't have 'wildlife preservation' high on their list of priorities. Pushed-down trees, heavily trodden loam and grass, even briars just roughly uprooted and cast aside eventually leads you all to the smell of campfire smoke, and other, more sulphurous scents. Eventually, you all reach a clearing, and see them. The demons. One is a massive, bulky brute, covered in armor. Their head is gigantic, a massive, spiked ball with a lion's face upon it. Another is an incredibly tall, humanoid figure. They are wrapped in green bandages that obscure their whole body, with only a single eye visible. Leaning on a tree beside him is a massive bow made of bone and sinew. The third is a gigantic owl, standing upon stilt-like legs. Their feathers are blue, purple and black, reminiscent of the night sky, and occasionally glimmer with faint light. A crown rests upon their head. The last is Amii, tending to a whole deer roasting upon the fire. "Ah, humans! Welcome, welcome. Please, take a seat if you like. I believe our meal is almost done. Would you care for a slice?"
Shinnosuke Tomari	Clearing out demons is a big task, but hopefully it can be done swiftly. Shinnosuke is dressed in his usual detective work uniform, fancy high-tech belt on his waist, as he approaches the clearing, following the trees and the briars. His eyes follow over the demons, all massive and different, and then- Amii, who changes this from 'done swiftly' to 'done peacefully'. Amii had some extreme beliefs, but Shinnosuke is sure he can convince him to move out. Approaching casually, but with a wariness towards Amii's 'friends' that is more subtle than obvious, Shinnosuke moves to take a seat. "Hello, Amii. Sorry, but I can't really eat. I'm here on business - trying to help people build bridges, in the metaphorical way." He places his hand near his chin briefly, before coming out and saying it. "Is there any special reason you've set up in these woods? They're, from what I've gathered, the home of the Fair Folk. I've heard they're supposed to be a tricky bunch, but they've come to view you as...squatters?" It's not an immediate demand to pack up and move out. He wants Amii's side of the story before he makes any real decisions.
Cantio	The job sounded easy enough when Cantio first heard of it. Find the demons in question, get them out through some means that ideally wouldn't involve violence, maybe get some more allies for the alliance between her nation and the demons working with Amii. What makes the whole matter considerably less easy, though, is seeing the actual demons in question here. More specifically, the fact that Amii is already here. Blinking slowly at the broken-horned demon, Cantio raises her hand in a polite, yet casual wave in greeting. "Hello! Ah, thank you so much, Amii. Let me see if..." She trails off as she reaches into her stuff-hoarding space, pulling out the first six bottle pack of sodas she can find. Ginger ale, made with natural low calorie sweeteners complete with that kind of aftertaste that only comes from new age fancy stuff. "Here we go... I'm afraid I didn't bring any ice, though. I wasn't expecting to... Er." She strokes her chin lightly while looking for a space to put the bottles. "How annoyed would you be if I told you that it's not a coincidence that we're here today? Because..." She nods towards Shinnosuke as he explains the situation. "I was hoping to gain the faeries and whichever demons were out here as allies for our cause. But since you're already here..." "Do you think gaining them as allies would be useful at all?"
Vergil	Amii looks to his companions as Shinnosuke explains that the fairies have complained of 'squatters.' They all laugh. A mix of boisterous metallic booming, wheezing chuckles, and literal hoots. "Why, that was the intent, yes. I'm glad it's getting to them. I guess they gave up when we repelled their forces the first few times." The drinks proffered by Cantio are accepted graciously. The big owl picks one up in its talons, somehow deftly opens it with them, then bends down to get the whole thing in their beak and chugging the whole lot in one go like a regular owl would a hare. "Let me explain," Amii continues, producing a small pile of books from a waterproof bag. Books of human history. Particularly, about British colonialism, the expansion west that formed the modern USA, and even the history of the Ainu of Japan. "I was reading up on how humans handled things, after my suggestion of subjugating other races went over poorly. And I realised, it was very uncommon for war to be the initial response. First, you would just move in, and take what you wanted. When people complained, you ignored them. When they attacked, you retaliated, and kept retaliating until you won. I don't quite understand why you don't skip all the things in the middle, but... well, I'm happy to try things your way. So here we are! Starting small, you know?"
Cantio	"I've seen a few shows about these... Exagerrated ones, probably, but this should be good reference material for later." Cantio peers over the books provided by Amii, resisting the urge to flip through them and instead snapping pictures of them with one of her drones. With Amii's explanation of the situation, though, maybe her programs weren't too far off the mark. "That sounds about right. I've heard that there's usually some kind of reasoning for starting small and escalating. Having to topple an evil empire, correcting some kind of wrongs in that society, stuff like that." She sounds excited as she says that, although there's a bit of an anxious tone in her voice as well. "Going right to war or not having a good-sounding reason just invites other groups to contest what you're doing. At best, it makes things harder, if not impossible. At worst, though... They might end up doing the same to you in return." With her concerns put into words successfully, she takes one of the bottles for herself and pops it open with a quick twist to get to sipping. "Have the fae been doing anything like that? I mean... There had to be some kind of reason for coming here instead of somewhere else, right?"
Shinnosuke Tomari	As Amii brings out his history books and explains his side of the story, Shinnosuke sighs. This is going to be a challenge, because he's a detective, not a diplomat or a historian. He's going to try, but he might need to come back with some friends, because he doesn't have the straightened tie energy to fight all these people if it comes down to it. "Well, sure, that's how it works historically. But that wasn't the core reason we were against your subjugating other races. You're still the aggressor here, right? I don't know what the fair folk may have done to earn your ire, but if it's simply existing and not being demon or human...that's still going to bring a negative reaction from a lot of people." He's not zoned out, but Shinnosuke ends up bringing out a box of milk candy and pops one in his mouth. He offers one to anyone if they look at him as if they're interested. And while he's doing that, Shinnosuke's eyes scan across the demons. One's obviously the bruiser. Big, strong, head like a spiked ball. One's an archer. If this leaves hot, he'll want to obscure their line of sight. The owl...aerial hunter? He'll have to ask his friends in the Paladins about owls and demonology, because he knows absolutely nothing about it.
Vergil	"Oh yes," Amii says. He might be smiling, it's hard to tell under that chitin mask, but his eyes crinkle. "These fae are, as far as I can tell, the usual sort. They claim this forest is theirs, they hassle the nearby humans. Baby stealing, destroying their crops, trying to lure them into ridiculous contracts and games." The big armored boy follows up on that. His lion face has a flapping jaw that doesn't quite sync with his words. "Used to be that humans would sometimes kill a fae while hunting, and they would come down on the humans like a plague. So now they just do their best to avoid the woods, but even then the fae will still bother them." Amii spots Shinnosuke looking around and claps his palm to his forehead. "Oh, manners! Yes, of course. This is Sabnock," he gestures to the big-headed figure in armor, who waves cheerily. "This is Leraje," He indicates the tall figure in green, who rattles in a way that might be a hello. "And Stolas." The owl, who bows his head. The crown doesn't slip somehow. "These are not my only friends," Amii explains as Leraje leans over to take some milk candy, worming it under his bandages to suck on. "Others are elsewhere, or in the demon world. We're just holding the fort here at the moment." The woods are still. In spite of the campfire, it suddenly feels like the depths of winter. Breath clouds, and the demons look about. "Ah. They're here. Apologies you two, but I think our 'hosts' have come again."
Shinnosuke Tomari	"Shinnosuke Tomari." Shinnosuke introduces himself to the three other demons, and then moves to take a step aside as the breath clouds and it becomes cold. The fair folk aren't the nicest...but still, this is wrong. He doesn't know what to do yet. He hasn't cracked the case. "What's going on?" He says aloud to the trees, expecting their hosts to hear him. "If you're here to fight while we're trying to negotiate, then I have to wonder why you requested our aid in the first place. If not...let's talk. No blood needs to be shed tonight."
Cantio	"So if they were to come back here without some kind of agreement otherwise, they probably wouldn't be inclined towards helping us or the humans, then..." Cantio murmurs, a troubled yet vaguely relieved expression crossing her face as she lays her own sympathies out rather plainly. ""And that's... Frankly, that probably wouldn't work out well for anyone in the long run." Rubbing her neck lightly, she takes another sip of her drink as she listens to each of the demons' names in turn and trying her best to commit them to memory. "Cantio, Dri... Second-in-command for the nation of Cadenza. It's good to meet you all." She introduces herself as well, actually sounding genuinely pleased to meet more of Amii's allies in this venture. "Have you had a chance to meet the-" Alas, she doesn't get that much time to chat the demons up as the air grows colder and stiller in moments. Taking a deep breath, Cantio turns away from demons and gets her friendliest mediator/good girl customer service voice on, stepping away from the campfire in the hopes that she's actually heading towards whoever's approaching. "Hello? It's us, everything's okay! We're talking things over already if you'd like to come join us!"
Vergil	"You were not invited to talk," a voice hisses from the canopy. A figure drops from above. Their skin the color of moss, their eyes as black as a cave. They bear blades of bone on every inch of their form. "You were invited to get rid of them. That was the agreement." "Oh you'll have to forgive them," Amii says with a laugh. "We've met previously you see. Not quite friends, but they understand my position at least." The canopy rustles angrily. Stares stab at the assembled like knives from the bushes and trees and grass. "Now now, don't get angry. You know how this goes," Amii adds. Sabanok reaches up and lifts his big head off his body, holding it up by a great chain that extends from his hollow neck stump. Leraje fingers his bow while Stolas begins flapping his wings, looking agitated. The fae is stroking those bone blades now, looking to the two Elites. "Whom do you side with, outsiders? Answer now."
Shinnosuke Tomari	The fae are mad. Shinnosuke puts his hands in the air, both out of bewilderment and for peace. "Talking is how I get people to do what needs to be done. If you had given us more time, we could have settled this." He's pinching the bridge of his nose. The fae create an ultimatum. "I'm not on either side. I stand for peace, for the innocent people out there, and right now, you're both being a danger. Let's settle this with discussion, not blades. That's not going to get you anywhere." Shinnosuke gestures out. "You called in help because you couldn't get rid of them. Imagine turning us both against you. That adds to the numbers of people you're fighting. Six instead of four." His tone is clear. He doesn't want that. But, if they attack him, he will defend himself.
Cantio	"I'm sorry, but are you asking me to violate a prior arrangement?" Cantio's tone remains customer service-y, but there's a distinctly harsher tinge to it as she shifts ever so subtly from cordial customer service to definitely-talking-shit-once-they-leave customer service. She chuckles lightly after Amii's laugh, never quite taking her eyes off the mossy figure thanks to those bone blades being brandished already. "But since you're already here, it'd be a great opportunity to try and get everyone on the same side rather than fighting amongst ourselves." She claps her hands together, putting on an even brighter smile as Shinnosuke emphasizes what could happen in the worst case scenario for the fae. "That's also a good point, but let's.. Um. Let's not get too ahead of ourselves just yet. Just... Think about it. The cunning of the fae, the power of the demons, the tenacity of humans." Still keeping her hands together, she glances towards the demons behind and then the mossy figure up front while tapping her fingers together, already mentally preparing to put the tips together should things go south. "Doesn't that sound like an unstoppable combination? Let's talk this over some snacks and drinks instead, okay?"
Vergil	The fae glowers at Shinnosuke, but is wary. Adding two to a force that has repelled them previously has him concerned. Cantio meanwhile, proposes collaboration. Amii seems surprised. "Why would I want to work with them? I want to eradicate them, remember?" The fae is similarly unimpressed. "We just want to be left in peace." There is a tense silence in the air, and then the stares seem to retreat. "We will give you a week. Leave our home. Make them leave, outsiders. Else we shall be forced to move ourselves. We will take the homes of the humans, whom we have graciously allowed to live near our forest." The fae leaps into the trees, and Amii sighs. "I suppose this is what you humans have to deal with huh? Well, they've made their threats. I suppose now will be as good a time as any to call in our full forces and storm their homes, least they take their anger out on those humans." The demons chortle, no doubt looking forward to it. "I hope we can rely on your help at that time?"
Shinnosuke Tomari	Neither side is willing to compromise. So Shinnosuke will just have to try his best to find the right option. As the fae leave, he speaks to Amii. "I don't like any of this. But I'll protect them. If that means fighting the fair folk... I...need time to think. Straighten my head. We're not done here." Shinnosuke heads off. He's going for a long drive.
Cantio	Cantio sighs lightly as neither the demons nor the fae are interested in cooperating, rubbing her neck lightly when the lines are drawn and a timeline is given. She doesn't lash out, at least, although she does look visibly disappointed when the fae leave. "I imagine humans are a little more open to collaboration than this, at least... Hm. No, we're definitely not done with all of this yet." She looks back at Shinnosuke as he leaves, waving lightly before stroking her chin. "But maybe... Maybe this can be a good opportunity, too." She closes her eyes in thought, slowly looking more confident about something as she taps the bottom of her fist into her palm a few times before looking back up at Amii. "This could let us everyone what an alliance between demons and humans can really achieve."