#anywhere

Jessica goes over the paper work of the day, missives, requests

Cat

Mamacita Marion has decided NOW is the time to get into her lap.

Jessica looks down, not without consternation. "Um."

Yes. Cat in her lap. Your attention, please? My back requires a stroke. She seems to say.

Jessica sighs and obliges.

Marion enjoys the strokes, quite savoring this brief kitten free focus of attention just on HER. And it is actually relaxing to do. It eases Jessica's mind for a bit.

Cats smooth, dogs cheer... her mother had opinions about animals being needed now and then.

Slowly, petting the cat draws more of her attention, until she gives up and just focuses on making the kitty purr; it is its own reward.

Thane Coy approaches, but smiles, and waits his turn.

Jessica looks up and nods for Coy to speak.

"Sorry to trouble you, Freeholder" the DeBuke is far more comfortable with that title, "and Marion" For he notes the cat is giving him a look not to disrupt the petting, "I wanted to know if the Rivervale trod's uptick in traffic was going to be standard ? "

"Uptick? Who's here?" She shifts in her seat and looks at Marion. "We might have to be done here for a while." She advises.

Marion is not pleased ,and yet.. with surprising tolerance (for a feline) she accepted it, and hopped off, and walked away as if to say 'I was going to check on the kittens ANYWAY'

"Well, not anymore, but the other day Zane Wayburton, a satyr of Rivervale, came in with .. of all things, Adam, a Kinian of Sidhe blood... through the trod. That's..rare. I guess he's got some help navigating the trods"

"Wayburton...." Jessica thinks. "Right, there's a Professor Wayburton. And family, I think. Must be related. Adam... yes, I've heard of him. Does patrol and other defense around the Barony there. They were here? Did they bring a message or something?"

"Apparently they were just curious," Coy says and relates the conversation, "They knew and respected the Escheat...they seemed to delight the young Countess.. and there's something about a tribute of purses to make up for Pocket injustice"

"......."

"Ok."

"Funny, I had the idea that the Professor's kids were older. And certainly that Adam was a wilder, given what he's done...."

"Oh they were wilders... but apparently the three childlings cowed them"

An eyebrow. "Cowed them?"

"I don't know if I have a better term for two wilder boys yielding to get purses do you?" He shrugs

"Next time they show, want me to have them presented to you?" He asks

"I don't have a better term, no. And no.... but I want to know when they do visit. Decide then if I want to see them, I guess. And I'll ask about it at Rivervale. Thank you, Coy. Ariel doing ok?"

"Ariel seems happier than I've seen her in her time. She misses her brother, of course, and running around on the farm some... but .. I admit, Ellie seems to have enchanted her.. .and become her truest friend in a short time. I do worry the young sidhe may make a royalist of the girl before the summer is done " A soft frown "But Ellie seems a good sort and... who knows, Ariel might teach her about commoner feelings. She's also fond of Salma, of course. She's actually interested in learning Spanish... and she was not the best student so THAT'S different.

"

A soft cough near the doorway.

Jessica looks over. "Selma. Hello, please come in. Thank you, Coy."

Coy nods "Anytime, Chieftain"

She entered and gives a curtsy to Jessica. "May I borrow un pequeno moment of Thane's time?"

Setting a plate with a muffin and some fresh fruit on Jessica's desk.

"Not that anything about him is pequeno..." Looking UP at the tall Troll a little shyly.

"Wait , you want me?" Coy is ..surprised and kneels down to get closer to eye to eye level . He's handsome in his way, one could see why Constance was attracted, "how can I help you, Salma?"

Her cheeks blush a dusty rose color. "I need to go on a búsqueda- A quest, to Rancho DeBuke."

"You want to go to the farm? Why?" he says surprised

"Mi Amiga Ariel is distraught. La Princesca wanted to visit, and Ariel believes that the Rancho may be... unkind, to her. Someone may have said that the folk there are mean and sour, and hurt her feelings." She scuffs a foot on the floor a little, hands twining in the folds of her dress. "I must visit Hearthagnes there, and ask her for a boon of chocolado dulce to make it up to her. And maybe if I should explain that Princesca is very nice, they will let her visit and everything will be bien again."

"Oh dear" A scratch of his chin.

"There are always chores to be done there, I am told. I can work for the boon, I promise! I am strong and have much energy, and I know how to sweep, and pick, and sow, and milk goats."

"We don't let Sidhe stay at the farmhold," Coy says "A lot of bad blood there. That's not Ellie's fault. She's a fine young lady, but there are a lot of mean folks who were sidhe that tried to take the hold from us. Even now and then it comes up. She might be allowed to visit but there would be places cut off from her"

"But she could come visit? It is importante, I think, for her to understand her amiga by knowing where she is from. She wants to understand, si?" Her voice softly insistent, this is important. "That is a good thing to have."

"Elllie might get her OWN feelings hurt if she comes" He says

"She could come in and say, I am Heir now, do things my way. And speak in Ingles or I will have you whipped. But she does not, she insists, Salma, teach me the espanol. Even if her accent is no bien, she tries hard. And she learned about us, as the Condesa did." A quick curtsy to Jessica. "She is just a small girl now, and it is time for her to learn to be friends with the cabracitos and animales and guardián azul and others, and not just their Jefa."

"We have many secrets, ones we do not share with any sidhe" he says "There are some who fear Chieftain Clem already opens us to the world too much, too fast. This will make it harder"

"Surely they are not afraid of such a little nina." She wheedles. "Who cannot possibly harm them. Rather, is it not good to make a friend now?"

Coy shoots Jessica a look perhaps asking for a bit of back up here.

"she does not want secretos." A sad voice. "Just to try the fudge of Hearth Agnes, who Ariel says makes the best there is. And see the home of her new friends"

"I would take her to see my home, but I have none." Her ears droop.

Coy feels a flash of sympathy

Coy gets an Excellent Eyebrow.