#anywhere

At another part of Brightwinds, Tasneem enters into the hold after getting to know the people of Fort Davis. She cann feel their distrustt, but she also can their temptations.

The ashen skinned fae heads to that open air area, and pulls out a cigarette. She smells of them anyway, so why not enjoy the vice? She takes a drag slowly. To mortal eyes she is a thirty four year old woman of hte middle east

to the enchanted, she'd look like a devil. with horns sprouting from her brow, gnarled fangs lining her gums, and a long spiked tail

Devils preferred unfiltered, she thinks to herself, amused.

Sparrow does not appear to be a devil. A decade or so younger than the jinn, gifted with youth, beauty, and magnificent wings. "Ms. Tasneem." A greeting.

"Baroness" She bows. Sparrow may notice the woman has shifted to Western clothes

LadyBird wags, all goofy Lab grin. "Outside of court, you may use Sparrow or Lady Sparrow. You seem to be adjusting fairly well. I have good news."

Tasneem strokes the dog a free hand "Good news?"

Her other hand has the cigarette trailing smoke in lazy circles

"Progress with the paperwork! While we're still working on housing, if you like, your daughter and the childlings should be able to attend school here. Even if not everyone is staying, education is important. Most of the girls seem to have some English, and I'm working to fund an interpreter if we need it."

"Mm the one good thingg about the Americans were that they did set up schools. No girls, then 64%... I told my daughter to learn" A proud look there "I said 'Charrity is like a river in arid lands, it will dry, drink your fill while you can, bottle up what you can for later.. it always dries up" A a shrug then a curious look "Sparrow? you're very kind." There's that sense of unease "I will not insult you buy asking what we owe you. You don't intendn this as a trade. Still, what do you desire?"

She considers.

"I want to get the sense I have done a good act and made a difference. I cannot save everyone - I did not save you, that would be Hastien and his Rovers. But now, if the aftermath... I want to see you safe. Happy might not happen, it doesn't always. But from safe..." A shrug. "Perhaps peace, if not happiness."

Tasneem looks over the angel, a glance tthat seems to drink the woman in

"I find neither peace nor happiness can be relied on to last, but that is no reason not to fight for it. " A look "You give praise to Hastie annd the others.. and that's very nice. But there's no reason not to bask in a bit of praise or worship when it does come your way. As long as it doesn't make you foolish. You're an American, pardon, Concordian. You should indulge that desire to be adored more if you'e not already. Hot gazes and warm touches are no crime here, or so I am told? Surely there is some handsome man, or woman, who might be quite happy spending time making a fuss over you? You're young. You should seize those moments of happiness for yourself too"

She blushes. "Ah.. ah, thank you."

"You're welcome" Tasneem observes "If you are looking for a private person to attend you, without coercian of course" A snort at tthe notion of such blunt tactics "give me a week, I could arrange a regular worshiper for you who is discrete. Just treat her well. It's the least I can do to the woman who has provided kindly for my dauhter and I. " A shrug

"I... oh, oh no."

"That isn't necessary. I don't really have anything to complain about. Bright Winds has been a very fortunate place for me."

A tilt to her head "Someitmes circumstances deny us and sometimes, SOMETIMES it's wise to avoid excess, but to deny pleasures entirely merely to settle for contentment alone? I think I may not understand you, Sparrow, not well. I won't press gratitude on you , but surely thee is one here you like? Who might like you in return? Love is.... difficult, but mutual pleasure, be it just holding hands or all the way to the beast with two backs" She's read her Shakespeare it seems "is a good way to pass the time in this world while searching for it. " A breath "Enough of my sermon those, those are suited to imams. Suffice to say I AM grateful for what you are doing for my daughttter and I. Fort Davis seems small, but I can work with it"

"Love is... elusive, lady. Yes. And it hurts to fall and find hard ground."

"Sometimes being small can be a boon. It will take some time, but you will go from being a stranger to 'theirs' - I was an outsider, and I am still considered eccentric, but I am 'their' eccentric."

"My kind tendd tto be off putting" She explains "People do not trust us easily, not without cause. But perhaps I'll be surprised. thank you" A look "You sound like one who has hit the ground more than once. But if I may? Perhaps your falls only hurt harder because of such wonderful heights you are blessed with. Don'tt fear the impact so much that you don't revel in the-" She frownns "And I am sermonning again. My apologies once more. It's gottten worse since I became a mother. Squeeze one human being out of your body and you start thinking you are one with the universe or some shit." a chuckle "Ah well, when my daughter becomes a teenaer she will tell me how wrong I am , no doubt"

"Teenagers are very good at that. I am glad my wards are childlings yet."

"Yes, they're still adorable and somewhat manageable" A smile, a real uncynical one "My daughter is going to do great things in this country, go farther than she ever did before"

"Ever COULD before" She adds, yes smiling "Freedoms like she'll have are rare"

Sparrow nods, firmly. "And I'll fight for her. I know, a little, of what it is when some man tells you you cannot be yourself because of his holy book. Regardless of what the book itself may say."

"What? You're not Muslim? " She mimes clutching to her pearls "My daughter and I must leave!"

then an easy puff on her cigarette (Away from sparrow) and a chuckle "It may not surprise you, but neither am I"

"I was raised Christian - told that I must be pure, that I should marry a man to obey and bear him children, that I was only fit as a 'helpmeet' and could never lead or be an authority, that I should submit to any man as my better. It is not the same as what you fled, no. But... in scale, not in spirit."

"I have often observed," She says putting out her cigarette's ashes over the edge "That if Allah.. .God, is real, he needs to vet better the people on Earth he is hiring"

A soft laugh. "Not wrong."

Ladybird seems okay with this devil looking woman, but dogs are notoriously soft touches, at least labs

She rests her elbows on the ledge, looking out over the grand sweep. "Many of my House are religious. Some may even be avowed members - nuns or priests or rabbis. I have not found that surety. I believe that there IS something even more grand than Dreams - be it God, or Da'an or the Tuatha - something which is divine, and sacred, and which resides in every living soul. Are we not magic? What is Allah but the grand magic of the universe?"

"Men would take that magic and make it small. Make God as petty as themselves - a god who hates who they hate, who counts beans to determine who is awarded and who is punished. That vision is nothing worth worshipping, but men will kill others over it."

"I think I like you, despite our differences. We may not have the same frustrations, but small minded men with too much power over others anger us both." A nod

Sparrow nods. "Agreed."

"It's my kith's curse to wear our sin on our forms, and to know the 'sins' in others" A shake of her head "the true irony? Some Shaytan make a good living blackmailing folks with this knowledge, but were it not for shame, such ploys wouldn't work. Shame is often the chain others place upon themselves"

Sparrow nods again. "Shame is hard to shake."

"I'm no Fiona - I have never been able to entirely escape the fears taught to me as a child. Perhaps it is a failing."

"If it is, it's one that proves we are both part mortal" A shrug

Sparrow nods. "Permaz said there are sidhe where you come from - in Concordia, we have a mix of autumn and Arcadian. I am most certainly as much Julia as I am Baroness Derynwydd Truthbranch ap Liam."

"Sidhe are rare but there. We mostly have Oba, Eshu's whose asses have gotten so fat they're rooted" Wryly "I'm being too harsh; they have their good and bad I suppose"

"Who doesn't?"

"Mmm a fair point. "

"Would you like me to pass on word to the others about the paperwork ?"

"I would appreciate that, thank you. The girls might not entirely be enthused about school, but the kithain girls will be there, too."

"Here, school is a chore, afghani girls get, usually, that's its a treasure"

"I'm not the most social, but I think they'll like the news. I know my daughter will"

A little feather-fluff. "Grand."