#anywhere

********

Of course, Buck wasn't the only one worked on the house, even if Wudlig was told to do it behind the scenes. He looks for Bluebell

Bluebell is "helping". One of the younger boggan kinain who is supposed to be working on window braces instead is watching her as she delicately tip-toes along a beam, stretching long, graceful legs.

He swallows, "That's not OSHA Compliant, someone really ought to do something." watches

Wudlig looks up "AH, Bluebell, you got a sec?"

The worker is startled and quickly returns to his work. Bluebell pouts.

"My audience...." A sigh, and she gracefully drops down in a plie before Wudlig.

"Yeah yeah, cute fluffy tail, they can look but not touch, totally orginal concept there" He ahems "Look, you sure this is okay with the baron? this secret passage idea and other changes you had me make? " He shows her the blueprints. The REAL ones with the hidden stuff. It is possible that the Baron did direct it, but it's also possible Bluebell may have finagled a few things in because.. Pooka

Doe-eyed innocent blinking. "What use is a warren without proper bolt holes? Would you have me trapped when the foxes come, or the men with the gas and the traps?"

"YEah, but a few of these are small enough so you'd have to be a rabbit to fit through them. How's that help anyone else?"

A sad look, "Woe, that a rabbits life is but a moment, a spark, and then a snuff. No one cares for the hares...."

She leans over and with measured reluctance taps on a passage that leads to a bunker space. "I suppose this one may be marginally enlarged."

"Though, a TRULY wise fellow may realize that a hole small enough for naught but a rabbit would also foil pursuit. Rather, it should be the fleeing one's responsibility to be the proper size."

He makes some notes then mutters "Sure, lecture the expert... but some of these 'rabbits only trails' look suspiciously like spyholes more than escape paths"

"How else wouldst one know when escape is needed if they do not watch?" A giggle.

"Uh huh. You want sluagh in your vents? Because this is how you get sluaghs in your vents. But all right."

"Oh, oh, no. The Baroness would need to call in a service to spray."

"Good point, her house's rep alone might be enough." He doodles "Ah, about the flip floor to turn one room into another, you know the furniture is going to need to be BOLTED in, right? Otherwise it'll drop chairs on who ever is in the basement."

A blink, apparently she didn't think of that. "But the one who is in the basement might be moi!"

"No, that simply will NOT DO."

"Uh huh? So.. scrape the flip floor or?"

"I mean, I can do a smaller trap door easy enough. Those are a breeze" A pause 'Might need to reinforce it incase one of the trolls visits. They can be heavy"

Bluebell puts a hand over her mouth, stifling a giggle at the thought.

"I'm not deliberately pissing off trolls. I'm dating one" another mutter "I hope"

Ear perk. "Hope?"

"Gerd and I... we'll I'm an ugly son of a bitch. I'm lucky to have gotten a girlfriend at all" he IS rather homely, his mask/lenses are more lovely than the face under it.

"But she and I seem to be more cautious? Like... well, we're young you know?" Indeed he is

"Oh, this Gerd must be a terrible person. So vanity driven, that she judges you based on your looks! Oh, the plight of Cyrano!

"Oh hey you furking shot your carrot hole when you talk about her!" The normally mannerly nocker says "She's cool and kind, and powerful. And her lip twitches exactly 47% degrees when she lets a smile slip but she knows she shouldn't find something funny"

He's steaming a bit "She's giving me a chance, mroe than most would give me! She has some cautions about Ailil holds sure.. and thinks Darkgate was more noble but I took the job here because it was better for me. We disagree is all. It happens. Doesn't mean she's bad, or I'm bad so don't you talk trash about her"

Mouth open wide, hand up in front of it. "Is that so? Why, then if she does not judge you unfairly based on your looks, it must be that she judges you with proper caution based on your occupation. A tsk, tsk, tisket and a tasket. Tis a good thing that you spend your time bemoaning what she must think, otherwise you might have to actually hear it from the horses own mouth!"

"Oh, look Harebrain, ALL nockers grouse, it's comforting... and the last thing I need her to know is how furkamentally INSECURE I am about this, about us! I can't look like a wimp or a wuss in front of her! Girls think less of guys who act like this.. you? I don't care if you think I'm a neebish cabinet humper, her view? THAT's Important"

"Indeed. And what IS her view?"

"Well she thinks.. I mean, she... seems......" A frown "if i weren't a professional I'd put a snare in those passages." He glowers.

Then he calms himself, smoothes his fancy voile "But I am a professional. SO... Scrap the flip floor for a smaller trap door or work on the furniture bolting?"

A delicate curtsy. "You are the expect, sir, I bow to your masterful judgement in all things."

"First thing you said that makes sense" He sighs "I'll get back to it'

"See that you do. Chop chop. You're not paid for chit chat, after all! Where DID that young fellow go?" She wanders off, perhaps to see if she can get the poor kinain to hammer his own thumb while watching her.

Once out of sight, however, she turns, and heads out swiftly in another direction. To her car, and to Rome, in fact. She has some recon to do. A pooka's meddling is never done...

@##$#$ing Naar! Wudlig, knight gallant, goes back to work on a flip floor that won't dump furniture. There must be a way

*****

Julius offers Buck a cold beer during a break. It's cold out, but that didn't stop the centaur from working up a sweat!

"If I was the suspicious type, I'd think you were trying to discredit Silverwolf's hospitality by giving back more than you're receiving for your 3-day visit."

"Just a hard worker" He smiles

"You're heading out tonight? I mean, I could be convinced to extend your hospitality." A grin, not THAT would be trying to take advantage.

"Sides, I made no secret I was hoping to learn things about this place. You folks have been forthcoming, even gave me some ideas of what to look for"

"And " he grins "I really should go. Got a three fold quest and I haven't even finished the first fold"

"I heard you were asking about dogs." He offers over a thin binder. "I have some information here, if you're interested. Lost breeds, hints and tips."

"Be great, thank you, Julius. " Suddenly all ears

"It's all from the Baron's files, that and Gwen, and even a few from our old kennelmaster. Lord Aiden's spread so thin already, he wouldn't be able to even think of trying to quest for them. Dame Gladiola - she has 2 fresh Fledges she thinks she needs to babysit... and she's not really wrong. Now, if any of these were to just, you know, show up... you're a young fellow, still finding your place, but eventually you're going to want to settle down."

Julius now sounding like an old geezer, imparting wisdom. He coughs, realizing it. "That is, everyone can use a nest egg. Even if you can't be convinced to accept a place here, if it was offered, I can tell you our Lord would pay well, even dross or treasures, for a successful hunt of this sort"

"Well, would your lord be willing to support a commoner modernist hold for them? A recogniztion of it's right to autonomy?"

Julius is drinking his beer, and he does a cough-sputter-spit take "What's that?"

He coughs a few times, clearing his throat.

"Not in his area, that's the good news" He says