#anywhere

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(A conversation with the Chieftain)

Kyle says "my wife, she is...insatiable.. it's almost black comedy" A sigh

Brekke takes a deep breath and maintains a carefully neutral expression. "I see. That..." a pause "...yes. Yes, satyrs sometimes can be...like that." She clears her throat.

He blushes "I love my wife, and she is pleased by my..gain in stature. But everyone acts like it is on a matter of time before she betrays me for another lover... Because she is a satyr. My own nature? I cannot even imagine another woman."

"Mm." Brekke frowns. "The satyrs I have known...well, I have known few well enough to be familiar with their home lives. I have known none who were married to trolls. They dynamic...yes, it may be difficult. Whether it becomes betrayal, though...." She takes a deep breath. "That largely depends on what oaths you make to each other, and what understandings you agree to."

"I had promised to forsake all others long before I was a troll," he says "It's hard to tell myself it doesn't count. But.. we'll see." A pause "She ..she says she think her passion is poetry. She's always been good at it, but never brave enough to share it much. She's going part time from her job. "

Brekke nods about the first part. "It is not my area of expertise. You may wish to speak with Professor Wayburton about satyr-and-troll oaths, although you should not feel obligated to agree with all he says." Then an interested look about the poetry, and she nods. "That may do much to satisfy her energies. How will the employment change impact your home?"

"Not badly, I'm well paid, and we had soem money saved up. I have talked to the professor.I suspect when were were mortal and visited tehm on Samhain, we might have ..ah ,enjoyed things" A blush "Hard to remember anything. I know yo ucannot do anything about this, and the Wayburtons have helped a lot...sincerely even. The professor has put her in contact with openings to try to get her poetry out. HE apparently wrote books about you? he gave me a copy of one"

A blink at the revelation that the Wayburtons hosted them on Samhain, and then a slight wince about the book. "To say that it is about me is an exaggeration, though I seem to have served as inspiration. The professor has certain notions about leadership and rule that often align well with my practices, and so he has used me as a model for his arguments. I have asked him to stop short of proposing me as a figurehead of some movement."

"Sounds vexing, my sympathies. Life can be hard enough without finding oneself having a show made of it, distracts from getting your tasks done"

A chuckle. "Well, you clearly have no difficulty embodying your new nature. Now...speak with me of your work. You know of banality -- you may have to guard against it as you continue your employment."

"I'm in marketing actually, not an..honest profession by some standards but It does require imagination. I recently did a commercial for MCgraff and O'Rily Insurance " he mimes a voice clearly from some commercial "Because if you're swept away by a flood, you don't need to be swept away by debt"

"Hm. Clever." She nods. "There is an artistry to marketing, as I understand it. It is possible to do ethically, I believe, although it may be hard to remain competitive."

"It's a small firm, but I have a lot of pull in it... the freedom was part of the appeal I confess. We do some good work now and then, but mostly for tax saving purposes- Charity Commercials can be write offs for thos ehelping"

"Mm, and still important work, yes. Good. If you encounter difficulties, though, or begin to forget, do not hesitate to contact myself or another fae. Right of Rescue," she reminds.

"Yes, the Escheat. "

A nod. "Exactly."

"Chieftain, what can I do HERE to help? I am not sained, but my family is a part of this community now. Sitting on the sidelines doing nothing never sat well with me. "

She grins. "You know, your son has had the same experience, in a way. He has wanted to be involved in this world, not kept to the perimeter. Well...there are many options, some of which will become more suitable for you as you gain more experience with your fae nature. I will ask you to join our patrols. This will help you become accustomed to the local lands, the fae who live here, and the threats we face. You must also learn to fight well, and so you will train here. That is where we will begin. Over time, your skills and talents will help us to determine how else you may contribute. Does this make sense to you?"

"Ah, Adam," A smile "I hope he's not been too much trouble? And yes, that's fine. I'm not afraid to start in the mail room so tos peak. A fight? Huh... well, I need to excercise. "

"He has not been trouble. He has been a great help, and has defended the barony well. Most recently, he defeated a creature that would surely have killed several kithain. Perhaps he will tell you of this, if you ask." But Brekke is giving him an odd look.

"He's a good kid" a nod, the smile setting into quiet pride. "Protected the barony? Part of me feels an urge to ask why he was put in that position, but another is more proud and... pleased that he has taken up guardinship... and why are you looking at me that way?"

"He was put in that position because he has demanded to be involved, and because we needed his help," she answers simply. "And...my apologies for the look, but I have questions about Adam. Perhaps you can help me find the answers."

"Certainly, what would you like to know? "

A pause before she begins. "Adam is not your son by birth."

"No, he is not. " A nod

"Mm." A nod. "He is...." A pause. "There are some qualities about him that are unusual, even for a kinain. Prior to the time you moved your family here, did anybody ever take an unusual interest in Adam? Perhaps offering to support him financially?"

"No," A brow "He's my son, regardless of how he came to be. His father was a sidhe who enchanted my wife and departed after a fling"

"Though she was not my wife then" He admits

A blink. "You...you know of this. Of his father."

"I do not doubt that he is your son, no."

"Of course I do... when we became fae, we were both enchanted.. .and for my wife, that meant her previous enchantments are now remembered. We had a rather long talk" A pause "Between things" Ahem.

Brekke looks somewhat ashamed. "I apologize, then. And truly, my questions are probably better answered by your wife, if she wishes to answer them."

"I will call her here if you like" he says

"It is not urgent. If she can join us, she will be welcome, or I can come and speak with her when it is convenient to her."

"It's no trouble. Either she's in a creative muse and talk about how POETRY... or she'll be finee and rush over happy as a lark"

"As you wish." She nods.

A moment later... and sure enough she comes running up... Winter leggings over goat legs and a light jacket

Brekke is bemused by satyr speed, though she shouldn't be. A nod to the new arrival. "Mrs. Thomas."

"Kyle!" She moves to her husband and leaps up into his arms to tear a kiss.

He returns it, then lowers her , "Honey, not in front of the Chieftain"

Brekke shakes her head. "It is fine. You are well?" she asks the satyress.

"I'm good, I think I'm weirding out my son a bit and Kyle and I are working some matters out, but.. it's good."

"You have a great deal to adjust to. It will take time. You must allow it to take time." A nod, then she continues, "Your husband asked you to join us because I have questions about your son. They are very personal questions; I mean no offense by them, however."

"No, ask away. I understand what's happened with us is odd even by Changeling standards?"

"Exceedingly, yes." Brekke pauses before continuing. "I understand that your transformation has also caused you to remember information about Adam's birth father. I have had questions about Adam for some time now. Can you tell me who sired him?" She is uncomfortable at the directness of her own question, but better to have it done with.

She looks at Kyle.

He nods gently encouraging. "It's okay, Brenda. It was before you knew me."

"he was the most gorgeous man I'd ever seen... if I knew then what i knew now, I'd have realized he was a sidhe, but that enchantment didn't give knowledge, it just made me feel like a princes "Brenda tells Brekke, "Have you ever been so caught up in something so beautiful that if the ground you were standing on was about to collapse you still wouldn't move when you heard a rumble?"