#anywhere

In another part of Earth Runes, Siv is feeling better though still a bit stiff.

The talk with Dagmar helped her out. And those salts really did work wonders

Now she walks through the gallery of art work, feeling a bit perplexed. What's looking at art have to do with being Fiona? But those are the orders.

She tilts her head at the image of the woman in read under a blood moon

A voice rumbles behind her, having softly padded up while she was contemplating. "Is the woman red because of the moonlight? Or is the red reflecting her intrinsic womanhood? Red is the color of life's blood, which is a female domain, that of creation." The pooka behind her rubs his whiskery chin thoughtfully. "Or maybe they just like the color."

"Huh, I can see that. That's not a bad.." She turns to see the pooka, "Oh, Hi Vince" Siv smiles.

He grins at her, and holds a finger in front of his mouth. "Now, don't go telling anyone that I'm viewing the western gallery, or someone will start thinking I've gone all "cultured" on them. Pearls such as thyself lend well to culturing. Brutes such as I? We ferment!"

"Ha" She laughs "oh Vince, I'm the sow's ear I fear. Only time I can really be cultured is when I'm faking it in cahracter as it were. Never much cared for frippery and finery, my interest in Fiona is..bigger than that." A sigh "I worry if me chances of being a Fiona rely on the artistic interpretation that I'm sunk. You on the other hand, are a classy lad with hair to die for."

"If thou art a sow's ear, then such must now be the new fashion - why, any ship with you upon it would boast two treasures, one locked away for safekeeping, and the other striding upon the Captain's deck." He beams at her, and considers the painting once more. "What does the color red say to you?"

She turns, "I don't know really I..." A pause "That's not entirely true. Where I'm from, Blue is very trollish.. .Grays to some degree...sedate colors, serene colors, colors that are steady. Red is..." A pause "Untrollish? I know some trolls are in Fiona, of course, but I'm generalizing here.. Red is.. action, not reaction. Red is active passion rather than waiting loyalty, Red is..intensity and hot, rather than cool and spread even. "

She smiles a bit as she looks at the painting anew but speaks to him, "By the Gods of the sea, Vince, you give good flirt"

He nods encouragingly at her. "Very well said! Red... ah, to me? Red is heat - the rush of blood pumping beneath your skin, the lick of fire. It is love and lust - Cupid, and the Devil. Power... a red carpet, a kingly cloak - or courage, in a bloody red badge or colorful shield in battle. And it can also be the sea..." A grin and slight bow of acknowledgement. "Whether in delight, or warning."

And a wink, in response to her flirting comment.

"I tend to think of blue for the sea, of course" A pause "Though aye, action is in the sea's belly and surface"

"mmm maybe that's where the silver comes in..for Fiona colors I mean. For this lady? " A pause "She seems to be wickedly joyous. Or is there some part of me that thinks too much joy is wicked?"

"Hmmm. That's a course for you to chart, for I cannot see the truth within thy heart. Many a Fiona might say, that naught done in pleasure may be wicked... or that a touch of the wicked heightens the pleasure. Perhaps, ask oneself - what is wickedness, to you? Is it intrinsic evil? Or mischievous glee? A playful, or vile - or perhaps, like a sinful devil's food cake, it is for one to feel glee is taking joy in an indulgence commonly seen as inappropriate or crass. Would cradle-taught morality and shame restrict willingness to give into passion, or add a delicious edge to that which feels "forbidden"?

"To me? If one asks of Wicked, I must say, I prefer Cats. NOT the new version though, of course."

"Tis possible my life has been me trying to wear red partly to take the blue off," Thoughtful, "Yes, I can see the forbidden alluring."

A smile "oh be nice to Taylor Swift. I like her."

"A flighty girl, perhaps, but she is named after two birds, after all, so one cannot blame her." A smile. "I hope I am not intruding on your scholarly musings? Has dread teacher Bachdion sent thou on this thankless task?"

"The baroness, actually, not sure on her reasonss, but I think that's my problem"

"The Baroness, or her reasons?"

"Her reasons. She doesn't owe me an explaination does she? " A smile "Least not yet"

A grin. "Who knows? If you challenge her on it, it may be seen as gutsy and brave! Or, you may find yourself mucking out her fine steed's stall."

"Hah. Or both" A smile "What of you? Why are you in the gallery? Not that you're not allowed. I shan't tell"

"A wee bookworm-billygoat sent me scurrying on your trail - for want of a treatise that I hope is lacking vitriol, though it may smell distinctly of cyanide, sans bitterness."

"Oh.. Sir Almond's book?" The only thing she can think of

A brilliant smile at that, as she cuts to the heart of his inquiry with little beating around the bush. "Indeed, just the one! Though, should you not be finished with it, I might allow for thou to read it unto me, each word a drop of wisdom into my stubborn head, dropped as grapes, one by one? Thy head upon my lap, or mine upon thine, either will make a fine pillow for study."

"Oh here, here," She reaches into her backpack nearby, and plucks it out "Finished it early the morning while I... " A pause "HEEYY... now, the pillow stuff, that's intriguing, but why do you need to read this one?"

Nearly-silent footsteps and a raven-haired head pokes into the gallery before disappearing to continue.....

..... it pops back in. August's expression is puzzled.

Siv has the book A Treatise on Fiona Affairs, by one Sir Almond ap Fiona in her hand, about to hand it over to Vince.

Naturally this is occurring in an art gallery.

Makes perfect sense

He takes the book, holding it aloft like a precious treasure, and then bows low to Siv, in an elegant courtier's stance, leg extended and takes the hand she handed it over in, for a kiss - just this side of Chaste, for all that he turns her hand over and kisses the palm, then curls her fingers up over it. "In case you find thyself missing me later, but press palm to cheek, and know I think of thee!" And then checks the book, almost as an afterthought, to make sure it's the one he sought.

"Light summer beach reading?"

Siv blushes lightly as her hand is taken but does not mind at all, "Actually, Sir, now Count Almond, is fond of bringing up some heavy history lessons from mortal kind in order to explain Fiona dreams. I think the word is 'dense'?" Not like stupid, like it, wow, packed with details. Good read over all but make sure you're able to focus"

A look, "Baron August?" She notices his head peeking in, and she bows "Can I Help you, mylord?"

"I.... I, ah, didn't mean to interrupt. I understand you're going to be joining us at EarthRunes occasionally?"

"Oh, dear Liam! Thou hast disturbed us at a forbidden tryst!" He clutches Siv's hand to his heart, melodramatically. "Alas, now we must away, we shall Elope upon the back of a Narwhal. To new lands, ahoy!"

Siv plays along, "Ours is a starcrosssed affair, truly" She pines "But when I saw his glorious locks, how could they fail but to shackle me heart?"

"Dearest, now that he has seen us, he cannot be released to give the alarm. Tsk - have you room for a cabin boy?"

"Well, we'll have to shanghai the Baroness too. Doesn't seem right to break up a set"

"Oh, now this is sounding like a pleasure cruise! We'll have to stock high in rum and wine!"

"There's another reason for cruising?" Her best baffled look

August takes all this with patience.

And then applauds politely.

"Gilbert and Sullivan, I think?"

Siv bows again, this time more of a stage bow, then smiles "Forgive me, Lord. To answer your question, aye. I will be visiting often for lessions on House Fiona to see if I am suitable"