#anywhere

Snitchet fluffs chimerical feathers

"...They are lovely birds."

"Thank you" he says flattered, "now, the offer of tea is geniune. I would not offer that even informally as merely a lure. Why your kith AND mine would be offended by that"

"Indeed, sir."

"This way, please. Now, how may I call you?" He opens the door from the tiny but busy room to show a hallway, clearly tea awaits.

"As you surmised, I am Miss Schwartz."

"A pleasure, Miss Schwartz. " he guides her down the hallway, "Would tea in a small study be adquette? We have larger parlors and dining areas, but it is my experience that your kith finds cozier less crowded niches more suited?"

"I would prefer a quieter space, aye. And you... teach at Vassar, nu?"

"I do, one of your classes in fact. " He opens the door to a small study the sytle is a triffle masculine, but quite suitable. "Do you have a preference of tea styles?"

"Oh, I like all kinds..."

"Well, then, Earl Grey acceptable?" He offers her a seat

"That would be wonderful, thank you." She sits, gracefully.

"Excellent" he rings a small bell, then speaks into it "The West understudy, tea for two, Earl Grey." it chimes softly again, and then he joins her to sit. "You are quite the cipher, Miss Schwartz."

"I am a sluagh, Professor."

"Clearly, but my liege is an Eiluned. Are you very familar with the house?"

She nods.

"And thus, I do not desire scrutiny."

A soft laugh, "The best way to avoid Eiluned Scrutiny, I fear ,is to seem entirely ordinary. You, Miss Schwartz, do not seem so ordinary. How many students bypass freehold security on their first week?"

Piff.

"I am most ordinary. I am sure you have some intelligence already."

Professor Plumm nods "Oh yes. Let's see... Zaram Schwartz, from Scarsdale area.... and yet, you have ties to a nocker who escaped and warred with the balor, with a troll who belong to a lodge that never signed the accords, to a former Eiluned Hold now turned Fiona. 'Most Ordinary' you claim, and yet, you hang out with some interesting folk to say the least. Somehow they triumph, each and everyone, and the thing they have in common? Their association with you. Coincidences perhaps, but I find coincidence is more aptly often called "Da'an's veil""

"Sometimes, when fate feels modest, she puts on coincidence for company"

"Ah, you needs speak only to the boggans of Alabaster Hollow. They shall set you straight." Demure sip.

"And Earth Runes - I am the librarian, aye. A favor for a friend from the Hollow."

"I suspect they would tell me all you think I need to know" A grin, "And a librarian already? Well, that explains your studies. Why not earn it in the mortal world as well? Most proper."

"Now, I suspect they shall tell you all they know, kithmate to kithmate."

"I do respect boggan observance, they miss little."

"Well, if I were to ask any boggans about you, I think I'd go to Earth Runes. Formerly Eiluned Hold is bound to have a few more...refined skills"

The faintest nose-wrinkle, irked.

Tea is delicious "But then, you were agitated because of prying. Pursuing it too much might annoy you further. Of course, one is seldom worried about annoying 'most ordinary' folk."

"I am a freshman of no title and no political ambition. I would, of course, wish to seek haven, a'times. I trust there are no ridiculous restrictions on musing?"

"Merely the usual restrictions on those who confuse rhapsoday or ravaging for musing. Your kith is fully allowed to 'teach' if need be if that's what you ask, though I do pity anyone who the sluagh feel need an education."

Zara nods. "Understood."

"Further, we quite encourage the creation and encouragement of dreamers... period. You will find that if you create dreamers that all can par take of, well, the baron has a program to reward such"

"I do not need gold stars for serving the Dreaming, Professor."

"Truly, the Baron need not mind me at all."

A sip, then "Gold stars? rather recognition ...positive role models are rare"

"But I understand, recognition itself is.. not always comfortable for some"

"Again, Professor - I am a sluagh."

"I must bear that in mind" he nods and sips "Clearly, in the case of your kith, any rewards would have to be in currency less likely to draw light. Say, perhaps, payment in secrets?"

She warms slightly. "That seems mre appropriate, don't you think?"

"I do. You are not the only sluagh in the area, to be fair, so I am not entirely inexperienced"

"Aye. I am aware."

"Oh good. I need not name any for your connections? well, of course not. half the fun is in hunting for oneself I imagine?"

"Ah, you do know something of sluagh ways."

"Perhaps... perhaps you could tell me aught of this Barony? After all, you have already learned much of me."

"Oh, it's a most ordinary barony" He says eyes twinkling. "But I do know a little of it."

"Indeed? Perhaps.. mmm.. some tit for tat?"

"You understand I cannot betray my liege's secrets. Twould be false hood to pretend... but ,for one thing, if you are the sort who is skittish about noblity, you'll be pleased to know Poughkieepsie has a commoner hold. Not at the college though"

Relief - the boggan senses it, as is their gift. "Aye?"