#anywhere

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At New Agengard, Sir Vali ap Beaumayn is announced and let in. He bears a gift, a blend of coffee and tea mixes from many exotic locales.

The Countess is occupied (busy woman) but if he'd like....

He would, but will make it brief

It's another few minutes, but then the Countess sweeps in with a few courtiers. "Sir Vali." Warmly. "How are you?" She holds out her hands to him.

He takes her hands, "About the same as yesterday I suppose, though less... panicked" A nod "I brought you a gift, a blend of rare coffee and tea mixes, but I think one of your staff whisked it away before I could blink. They're scary efficient. How are you?"

"Well enough."

She does look well, almost ageless after a certain point.

Vali sometimes wonders about seeking a vision of Thea's future, near or far. But in addition to being worried he might see something he could not help with, he also doesn't want to offend her. She is a secretive person, and while she might pry into the secrets of others, it feels wrong to violate her future so without her permission I'm never learned to be ruthless with those I care for. I hope I never am the troll thinks. If a vision comes, it will come. "I know you are busy, but I hoped to talk about the visit from the girls earlier and the fall out there of"

"Thank you for your gift."

OOC <ENTER>

"Girls?"

Vali raises a brow. Some suspicions coming back and he watches not so much THea as the courtiers and staff

"Come, let's sit....." And she leads the way to the Solarium, and refreshments therein, as she listens.

they take a seat, and once alone, or at least as alone as he's going to get, he says "yes. The girls who came here from Rivervale?" A bite of his lip "Perhaps you don't remember? "

She pauses just a fraction. "Ah. Yes. They were memorable."

"What were their names?" He asks softly

".... they were both of Rivervale."

A nod

"Siv." Another pause. "And... something else Nordic. Trolls, of course. D-something. Dagny? Dagwood?"

She smiles. "It's been recorded, shall I send for the information?"

a slight relief, but only slight "Dagmar" a smile at Dagwood "And while I'm curious as to the official record, mostly I wanted to thank you again for being gentle. And...ask, did you scry them? Knowingly willingly cast a cantrip to omen them or the like?"

"Dagmar." She agrees. "Why?"

"Well," He cannot tell her to just answer the darn question. That's borderline blasphemy to do your Auntie Thea , let alone a countess of Eiluned, "I think, however you meant it, it may have been ill received by at least one, and I have big hopes for mending bridges. Did you?"

She leans back in her chair, considering the question.

"No." Finally.

A nod, "So how did you know ? " Actually fascinated, "You cast no cantrip on them, yet you could sense Dagmar's strong destiny through her skin, and Siv's seeming disconnection to Fate's weave? That's..that's amazing" In awe a bit.

The dark sunglasses reveal nothing. "Vali.... it's been some time, hasn't it?"

"I have mastered several powerful Arts. Sometimes things... are evident. You're ... you've oathed to Beaumayn, have you not?"

"I have" he says surprised she asks again, but putting somethings together.

She nods. "Sometimes, I am given to understand, Beaumayn might see things they don't intend to?"

"yes, in fact only a ffew of us can just 'call a vision' like that frequently. Mostly the vision calls us"

She nods. "Well then."

"I think I understand. I hadn't realized you had become so ..in tune. How do you handle it all? The constant quiver of the strings of fate's web? The mutters of names, true and false, echoing? It's got to be crushing" Worried look for her

"Invigorating in my dottage." She responds primly.

"Ahem" He lets loose a bit of a chagrined smile, "I kind of asked for that one, didn't I?"

"Mmm." Agreement.

"I do love you, Auntie Thea. And. I worry when you forget things," he sighs, "And I wish you and the Chieftain could be friends, because you're the two women I respect most in this world. I must seem still a naive child to you both." THe young man shrugs "But it is how I feel."

She pats his hand. "You're a sweet boy, Vali." Fondly. "The Baroness holds a grudge, I fear. It is a burden I have learned to live with."

"I don't mean any disrespect to the man, but Hemlock is so not worth this. I think the chieftain finds you a bit ah... dismissive of her. Me? I think your styles conflict. But whatever the truth. I do hope bridges between you never get burned entirely. For selfish reasons. Gerd and the like. " A thoughtful look at her.

She chuckles. "Well, the Baroness could hardly be expected to feel the same way, could she? Bless her heart. As for any dismissiveness of her, I will observe that when you were in need, we worked together well enough. I'm Eiluned; we don't burn bridges." A smile. "Do Gwydion?"

"For honor's sake? I fear they sometimes do, not all of them ,but then, the Chieftain is no ordinary Gwydion. As you say, she worked with you for my sake. And I am grateful for that. " A nod "I do think there are somethings the Chieftain does not need to know, not because she would take advantage, far from it, she might try to help you, but I get the feeling you and she would disagree on what's helpful." A look "Any thing I can do to help you? Can you pass on the winners of the world series from 1980 to 2000 AD to make room in there?" He says looking at her only half joking.

She chuckles, patting his hand one last time, and sits back. "We could perhaps engage in a bit of quid pro quo, if you like."

"Well, I'm open to the idea. And I DO still want Soothsay lessons. I learn so much from you. That said, I'm partially here for Tiffany " He fingers his collar nervously "Need to talk to her."

She tilts her head. "Oh?"

A blush "Well, speaking to you as a beloved aunt more than a ruler here? I...I'm not a kid anymore, and I won't be a wilder much longer. At one time, chasing after one girl to the next was fun if frustrating, but I..it's been more adult with Tiffany, and I Like that. I think our relationship has gone to the stage where ie's obvious our affection is more than..pardon the pun, puppy love. I'm going to have the talk with her about where our relationship is going, and let her know i think it's time to move it further along." Nervous yank of collar again

She listens, and lets the moment rest a moment. Then, "I see. If she is not ready to 'move it further along'?"

"Well. I..." He shrugs "Uhm.. I have no idea. I mean, what am I going to do, pout? Kind of defeats the whole 'adult' in adult relationship doesn't it?" Vali confides the obvious "Okay, I'm actually scared that she might just do that. "

The lady nods. "And if she is ready?"

"Then she and I find out what adulting is. I...don't think wedding bells are the next stage. "

He does look thoughtful as if realizing he had spent up so much energy trying to get to THIS point maybe he didn't look over the hill.