2026-03-12 11:50 - 14:12 PST
Thalia went to see Joey’s band at Serena Bar. After the show, they stepped outside to talk.
Joey steps outside, lightning up a cigarette. When Thalia approaches, she asks, “What do you want?”
“I don’t want anything from you.” She holds up her hands in a friendly gesture. “I just wanted to check in on you. Make sure you are doing alright, after what you did for us. And besides- you did us a favor so if there is something you need, I’m happy to do it.”
Joey asked she leave. She regretted helping out the Anarchs as it’d gotten her in trouble with her mother, Amalia. She didn’t even want to be Harpy. She was only fulfilling the role because her mother was Harpy before she became Primogen, so she’d have to follow the same path because of her old british divine right of lords bullshit.
“That’s stupid. Makes no fucking sense. But, and this is also probably a stupid question, but who decides the harpy?”
“The Prince, who my mom has by his shriveled ancillae balls.”
Then, Thalia asked Joey about Amalia’s suspicious aura. Joey’s hesitation betrayed that it was a worthwhile line of questioning, though not one Thalia would pursue then. What ensued instead was a discussion about building bridges, and radicals on both sides of the war.
“If you want to build bridges, you need to tell your boss to stop burning them. She’s treating this like a turf war. More of my people are getting hurt.”
Something cold flashes in her eyes for a moment. “That’s because she does treat it like a turf war. She’s unreasonable, and doesn’t seem to care about the lives that she takes, and is an issue. That I am working on believe me. We may be family, but frankly, I don’t see it. I am aware she would burn every bridge I have made if she knew I was doing this in the first place.” She sights, breaking off her rant. “But- I am- doing my best to temper her.”
Joey offered that she could make a start by telling Kiri to back off The Crest. It’d be difficult, but as long as The Roses could continue putting on shows there, it’d be good enough.
After parting ways with Joey, Thalia called up her aunt, Kiri. She managed to take over responsibility for The Crest, offering that it’d free Kiri up to do more important work. Partway into a patrol, she spotted some Toreador neonates. She warned them not to start anything, but let them in.
Gods this was going to be exhausting to do everyday, but if meant that her allies were building, and building- well. Then it was worth it.