mallowhallow | [Video] The Free Ride Is Over

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Current Location: The Blue Castle, Lochwell

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[Video] The Free Ride Is Over

[As the various citizens of Mallow Hallow wake up, their devices flicker to life with a mass video communication. It's Queenie, sitting on her throne -- and looking quite grumpy. Tronctor-level grumpy, almost. She drums her fingers on the arm of her seat, frowning into the camera.]

Hello, my dears. Recently, I find myself continually hounded by a group calling itself the Native Population Coalition. Seems that my policy of allowing all our distinguished guests -- that would be all of you -- a "free ride" in our country is immensely unpopular. There has been a lot of complaining about how everyone should be treated the same, regardless of their country or universe of origin.

[Cue deep, put-upon sigh.]

I had hoped you could all settle this among yourselves, but it appears I must step up in and clean up this mess.

[She scowls for a moment, then plasters on a very fake smile.]

So! Starting today, dear hearts, you're going to be using the same currency as the rest of us! Isn't that exciting? They're called Queen's Notes -- though you can shorten that to Notes if you like -- and they're good all across Mallow Hallow! They come in denominations ranging from 1 to 100. Everything is paid for with paper bills -- no coins. I don't like coins. You can never find the ones you need when you need them.

Anyway, darlings, each of you is going to get a special one-time stipend from myself and my husband of 1,000 Notes. This should give you enough money to support yourselves for a bit while you find ways of earning more. I wouldn't worry much about it -- there's always plenty of jobs to go around, if only you'll look! We've also set up a special bank in Lochwell: Mallow Hallow First Monarchial, with saving accounts for all of you. Tronctor's done something to the communication devices to allow you to view your banking information with a special "app" -- and those of you in Crystalden should be able to pay for things using your phones! Isn't that something?

I know this is a bit of a shock, dears, but it's all in the interest of fairness! I'm sure you'll get used to it in time. And besides, now you have a way of keeping yourselves occupied that you didn't before! So really it's a positive development! Anyway, you should all be receiving your money by the end of the day. The rest is up to you, darlings!

[She lets her smile flicker a little.]

Don't let me down.

Have a lovely day!

(OOC: So yeah -- things are no longer free in Mallow Hallow! This means characters will have to find ways of paying for food, clothing, and other items that they want. This means getting a job, perhaps starting up their own business (Mallow Hallow First Monarchial does loans -- but remember, you're required to pay that money back. . .), or turning to a life of crime. As Queenie said, the national currency is the Queen's Note, available in paper or (if you live in Crystalden) electronic form. 1,000 of them should at least keep your character fed and clothed for a bit while they hunt for a job, although prices between districts can vary -- Crystalden's stuff tends to be at least a little more expensive than Highcrest's, for example. On the other hand, Crystalden's probably lasts longer too.

Feel free to have your characters post comments, complaints, or questions for their monarch! Queenie will just love answering them. /sarcasm))

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_{[Have a very serious, very worried Balfour. He, Reid, and his brother can easily support themselves, but…]}

What about the kids?

_{[He remembered Sasuke and he was worried about him.]}

[Ah, yes, there are small people running around, aren't there? Queenie has a whispered conversation with her husband.]

They'll still get the money, of course -- we'll have Lea look after it for them, since we'll also be looking to get them all into the appropriate school for their age and talents. We'll make sure no harm comes to them -- and I'm quite certain wonderful people like yourself will also make sure they're looked after!

[Queenie herself is not the biggest fan of children, but neither does she want to see them abandoned on the street -- having Lea and people like Balfour take care of that business seems to work nicely to her.]

Do the kids have to pay rent?

_{[Balfour thought for a second, then decided. He couldn't help every kid, but for Sasuke, well... He'd probably be able to pay his rent if he wasn't living with someone already.]}

What about living arrangements?

Well, any child who hasn't found a family to stay with can live at one of the schools, I'm sure. They have dormitories for just that purpose, don't they?

[She's -- actually not sure. She'll have to ask Lea.]

They'd be free of charge, at any rate. Schooling is very important to us!

Good. I'm worried about some of them. I'll see what's going on and help anyone out who needs help.

_{[He didn't want the kids out in the cold and rain, or going hungry.]}

Aren't you a dear! And I've asked Lea, and she's confirmed there are dorms for those children without any other place to stay. So all these little people should be well taken care of.

[Oh dear.

Oh this is bad.]

WH47 4R3 CR3D175?

[Coming from a troll who's forgotten what currency is.]

Edited 2013-07-03 14:17 (UTC)

[It takes her a moment to puzzle that out, but she gets it in time.]

Ah -- "Notes," dear. You give them to people, and they give you things in return -- food, clothing, so on. You'll need them if you want anything from the stores now. But you have 1,000 of them coming your way, so don't worry too much right now.

[Big grin that has an edge of "Just accept you have to pay for things now" to it.]

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[No baby, don't anger the queen.]

It's the way the world works, dear. And you'll have to answer to me if you decide to just start taking things.

Or maybe to Tronctor.

[Because she doesn't like getting her hands dirty, and he's grumpy all the time anyway. . .]

These natives makes things troublesome, if not interesting.

[He gives the Queen a wry smile.]

If we were to open our own means of earning notes, do we have to apply for some sort of permit?

[He wants to see the extent of a business' legality]

They just want things to be "fair." I suppose one cannot blame them for that.

[The Queen smiles back, genuinely glad to see someone taking initiative.]

It would be recommended that you get in touch with whoever's in charge of your district and let them know. They'll in turn let you know about any paperwork that may be necessary.

I suppose. I certainly hope they won't abuse your indulgence.

[He contemplates on this]

I'll make sure to do that. Care to tell me if there are any restrictions on the nature of the business?

I certainly hope not as well. I'd hate to think of what would happen.

I would think that would be up to the governors. . .though if it's a less-than-family friendly business, we would ask that you be discreet. We do have small people about.

[He understands how it feels to deal with subjects with varying opinions] It would be too troublesome.

I understand. Then I have to talk to Tronctor about opening a blood bar in Crystalden.

Deeply troublesome. [So nice to have someone who understands.]

Fascinating! I wish you luck with that!

If you're ever to need aid in these matters, I'll gladly assist in silencing the matter.

[He nods]

[You certainly know how to get into Queenie's good graces, Kaname.]

Aren't you sweet. I'll keep that in mind should anything ever get truly out of hand.

[He wouldn't be the king of vampires if he didn't know how to conduct himself with people who had power.]

Just happy to lend a hand to the Queen.

We so need more subjects like you.

It'd be easy to do that.

[He smiles with his eyes glowing red]

[That gets a raised eyebrow.]

Oh? You have some thoughts?

[He keeps his smile and chuckles lightly]

Though I never exercised it because I didn't see it necessary, I have a natural born talent to make people follow my command. If you ever see it necessary, I can help you by using that power.

[Hmmm. On the one hand, it would make things easier. . . On the other, they'd be under his control, and while he's been nothing but pleasant so far. . .]

I'll think about it, dearest.

[Certainly the queen must think about it, because this power is no joking matter. And happily, Kaname's only real interest is making sure that his beloved sister is safe. She can use Kaname all she wants... for as long as the Queen can assure Kaname of Yuuki's safety.]

Do that. Warn me if you deem it necessary.

[She does know that -- she may act a little silly sometimes, but she's Queen for a reason. And she has no intentions of letting anything happen to the girl -- she does care about her subjects -- but she can't control everyone. . .]

I will indeed.

[Kaname will be quick to realize that. Certainly.]

When my establishment opens, I'd certainly be pleased to see you there. It would be an honor.

[Queenie will probably find it a good idea to try and see that whatever she can do to protect Yuuki will be done. . .]

I may have time drop by for a little look around, dear.

[Oh that would be most appreciated. She means the world to him]

It would be an honor.

I'll see what I can do!

Thank you.

[With that he ends the feed.]

So the public wants us to get jobs? Fine, whatever, I don't like them anyway.

[That wasn't that important to him.] I still got a bone to pick with you.

Oh, dearest, really? What sort of bone could that be?

Why the hell did you bring us all here?

You were needed! Without you -- well. Mallow Hallow would be a terrible, terrible mess.

[Granted, these newcomers also seem to like to make messes, but -- their messes are much better than the alternative.]

Fine, we'll go along with that, so if you need us then why do we disappear from this place? Is this your idea of a joke?

I don't know why some of you disappear, dear. We don't want anyone to disappear. Tronctor goes on about "portal instability" and Orion about "the currents of magic ebb and flow" and -- well, if it's too confusing for me. . .

[She shakes her head, then offers another smile.]

It's certainly not a joke, darling. I can assure you of that much.

Argh, can you at least tell me if my friends made it back home or not!

Well, I would imagine that if they're not here anymore, they must be back where you came from. Tronctor would tell me if we were sending people anyplace else.

We could try and bring them back, if you like.

[Yes, she is kind of deliberately winding him up.]

Don't you dare bring them back! [They don't belong here.] If you drag anyone else here I'll march right up there and knock you off your high horse personally!

If you have a stupid problem let Kuwabara and I deal with it. You won't need anyone else.

Low horse, dear. I'm not very tall. [Oh, she is a bit snarky today. She may be finding Yusuke's rage amusing, honestly.

Oh, and now time for a big, deliberately-silly-looking smile.]

How kind! We'll let you know when we next have a stupid problem.

You better hope I don't find out you're lying to me. Next time I'll level your entire kingdom to ground. [Because who's gonna stop him? Not your puny knights. He's dealt with kittens scarier than them.]

[This is...troublesome. Expected, and proper, but nevertheless still troublesome. Actually, what's getting Hubert's goat is that Crystaldenians apparently do financial exchanges over these communication devices. The lack of tangibility makes him nervous. But never mind that, he'll work it out soon enough.]

Your Highness, might you be hiring additional men to defend and serve the country? I have extensive experience in a wide variety of operations, from offensive to defensive to simple reconnaissance, and would be more than happy to lend any aid I can in that regard.

Really? Well, that's very kind of you, deary!

However, this is actually more Sir Joy's department -- his Knights in Highcrest serve as our royal army if and when the time comes. He's a great believer in non-discrimination, so even if you're not from his district, I'm sure he'd be happy to at least talk to you.

[It's well worth looking into. Hubert makes a note of the name, though it'll be hard to forget such a laughably distinctive name.]

Thank you for the information. I'll make a visit to him soon.

On a different note [no pun intended] I'd like to know whether it's possible to somehow convert the electronic form of your currency into its more traditional, tangible form.

[The best part? He's Sir Joy the 27th.]

Oh, you're quite welcome!

I would imagine so, dear. You could go to the bank here in Lochwell -- and I think Tronctor said something about electronic banking machines in Crystalden. Rest assured that, no matter where you live, you can get actual Queen's Notes.

[A nod.]

That's good to hear. Thank you, Your Majesty.

You're very welcome, darling!

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