#anywhere

Continuing n French, unless otherwise indicated. "My Trueheart can be stealthy for a troll, he is not without art."

The sluagh shakes his head, "The ruling sidhe here consider commoners without an oath of fealty to link them to a noble as
suspect, perhaps even anarchists... they have been squeezing of late." at the mention Earl can sneak, he looks impressed, "Then I suggest he use it. Come or do not. I only mention this at all because you are one of my kith"

She splays a hand across her chest. "And your courtesy is appreciated, cousin."

"Sombre Joie" he introduces himself, 'But come" And he leads them away. Just in time it turns out, for sure enough, two sidhe approach where the others were and look about

Zara follows, but tries to keep an ear on what the nobles are up to.

"Surely, not all of the commoners here are chained by Oaths..."

"My dear lady, there are sections of Neustira that have sidhe out number the other kiths combined. When other parts of Europe tried republics, how tragic that is France the place nobles fled to. One can barely whisper 'le resistance' without making them want to 'question' one'. They have been cracking down again. They fear the words of the Cyclops"

"France, home of Madame Guillotine? Of the Bastille? Feh."

"Who is this Cyclops?"

Somebre Joie /Dark Joy swishes with nary a sound, "No one knows. A one eyed figure in Concordia who somehow snuck past the censors the sidhe try to set up. You see, he apparently inspired some dreamer American to write a book not about a benevolent monarchy, but rather a crown breaker by a common born hero who rallies the people into a great struggle. Well, it did well enough in North America, but in parts of France.." A happy sigh "It was like a mature Harry Potter in popularity. Our dreamers loved it, and we commoners latched on. The teachings in there are like codes to live free by. The nobles don't like that, but it is too late."

"Oh, him."

"And nay - dreams of freedom, surely, are as old as the stones."

"More like fires, the Cyclops has helped stir ashes though, embers catch a flicker..." Dark Joy looks curious "You know of the Cyclops? Who he is? " And they have slipped into a building, an Art gallery! Closed technically

Earl 's mouth falls open

"A Concordian. Like us." Zara pats Earl's arm with affection. "Aye, love."

"Aye... this art.. it's nazi propaganda" Earl stares at the paintings, "Or from that period"

"Oui," Dark Joy says "Some of it quite lovely for all the horror of the Nazis who patronized the artists.. YOu have a keen eye"

Zara narrows her eyes, hissing.

"Calm yourself, my Concordian friends" Dark Joy holds up his hands "This is not a gallery, it is a prison. Are you familiar with an an American by the me of Gilkey?"

Earl nods "Of course, an artist himself... During World War II, Gilkey served in the United States Army Air Corps and advised on cultural monuments to be spared from bombing. Following the Allied victory, Gilkey was named Chief of the War Department’s German War Art Program from 1945 to 1947. His primary responsibility included gathering German and Nazi propaganda art. In his report on “German War Art,” Gilkey explained his job more fully: he “provided for the collection, processing, preservation, and control of war paintings, photographs, maps, trophies, relics, and objects of actual or potential historical interest or value produced during the present war…requesting the collection of available paintings, watercolors, engravings, and drawings showing troops activities, views of battle fields, military installations, industrial or home front activities produced by German and Italian artists during the present war…all works of art relating or dedicated to the perpetuation of German militarism or Nazism will be closed permanently and taken into custody.” The nazis used icons like a weapons, Gilkey hoped to defang them"

"A simple Oui would have sufficed" Dark joy sniffs "But you are right"

"Feh."

"I need not like it."

"Well, some think Gilkey over reached, a lot of the non nazi specific art he took was returned..." A look at the paintings "Or I thought it was, to Germany."

Earl looks over "This is some of that. It was supposed to be either returned to Germany or in the United States by now. How?"

"They would have had me and mine destroyed. I live and defy them. I would defy all. I need not see their lies." Agitated.

"Precisely!" Dark Joy nods to Zara "No mortal has seen these in decades. And non will while I live. That is why these are here. My apologies' He starts to put up curtains over the paintings "This place is a jail for art. You may call it censorship, but my past life, I remember what they did to France. Now I rob them and turn THEIR angry shouts into mere whispers"

"Good, Let them fester in darkness. We sluagh... we hide what must be hidden, and keep secrets, and teach lessons. Yes."

Dark Joy puts his hand over his heart briefly, then resumes covering them. It seems he has enough sheets for each painting

"But it's not all bad" Earl says softly "SOme of these artists didn't have a choice, not if they wanted to paint at all. I can understand keeping the ones that have nazi symbols hidden, I suppose but..."

"They were... just following orders, these artists?" Dark joy sniffs

Earl winces

"There is always a choice."

Zara smoothes back her pale locks before loosely braiding them. "So. The local nobility has taken to squashing the commoners under their well-heeled boots. For fear of their supremacy. As strangers here - what need we to know, to survive? I had hoped for a lover's romp, in truth, but change is good."

"To be fair, the sidhe don't have the work ethic to keep it up anything more than small surges of effort. And Paris is a BIG city. I can direct you to where there patrols will not be. We sluagh have taken it upon ourselves to track the patrols, and spread word to our fellow commoners. For example, they won't be in force along the seine market for another three hours. "

Earl looks amused at that, "Wait, so their patrols are... essentially..."

"A waste of their time" Dark Joy smirks "Why do you think I was on the look out for people like you?"

Zara smiles.

Earl chufs very lightly instead of a laugh that would be rudely loud by sluagh standards "Well played, monsieur "

"Indeed. Hm - know you the Marquis Boniface d'Colline?"

"I know OF him" An admission "of course. A noble whose hold is too weak for other nobles to envy, but too important to allow to a commoner, he's not in Paris but is not far. He is said to be a power player. One who other nobles can trust because they feel he is not a rival of course, he turns this into political power. He has connections, influences from his many 'impartial' opinions. Like all sidhe he is most handsome, and sometimes takes a commoner lover for a period of a few months at most, then sends her on her way with some momento, a treasure or item of worth. He is quite the lover of books, and has a grand library which is his pride and joy" the sluagh clearly is vered ""now, dear lady, I have given you my nomme de Kithain, but I don't think either of you have given me a name in exchange? Secrecy in these times is a delicate matter I know, but at least let me know how you prefer to be caleld?" Despite his odd looks and style, it appears he's a gent

"You may call me Raven, but I go by Many Names. This is mine Hunter."

"Fine names, Madameselle Raven, Monseiur Hunter. I sense in you a disdain for noble snobery, so I tell you happily where to find the Marquis. It is a country estate on a hill..." And he describes the location

"I am a librarian, myself." As if that makes her motives clear.

"Perhaps he will be more open to you than he is to some, particularly if you are versed. He is hardly the worst noble in the area" An admission "But nor is he the best"

"He is a noble." A shrug. "Think you he would be amenable to allowing a guest to peruse his books?"

"Fiona tend to be... well, not 'better' per se, with regards to commoners... but they do like to style themselves as such."

"Yes, a vanity we can rely on" Dark Joy says "But they give up the full spectrum of fear. At times, I pity them. He might be willing. "

She taps her chin. "Perhaps in trade... access to the book I desire, for another."

"I could, of course, simply sneak in during the dark of the night and read at my leisure."