#anywhere

(Perception plus Alertness)

/roll 7

Foot steps so soft, it musy be a sluagh behind her

Zara turns, drawing herself up slightly.

The pale boy looks up "pardon miss. Bad manners I know, but my name is slip. do you have a moment?" The childling scuffs his barefoot shyly

Cautiously. "...Aye."

" i am looking for a kith sister," A low voice "she's probably furious. she was framed, you see? she's all clear now though... she looks abit like you only your hair is wrong and not white and stuff" Her disguise holds "but you're new here. i can tell, and i thought maybe you knew her and where I can find her?"

"What would you want with your kithmate, were you to find her?"

"well, to make sure she's okay first,also a friend wants to meet her, a childling like me. it's a point of pride, if we find her first, we feel like we beat the olduns" a toothless grin, then he adds, "err elders"

A wry twist of gray lips.

"also i know things so I thought maybe tht would make it worth her time" he adds

"Aye? What kind of things?"

"information, of course, like what's been going on, who is looking for her and where they can be found, and the trouble her sister has gotten into"

"Mm. Things which might best be discussed over tea, I think."

And a spider - Octa - peeks out from under the black hair of the wig.

The boy gasps wordlessly, and grins "ooo , that's a good disguise." Then he ahems and getting to the role proper like, makes a gesture of splayed fingers over heart "Miss Zare manynames I presume?"

"Master Slip, of the soft step." She splays a hand over her chest and bows slightly.

He looks flattered, then say "Tea it is. Pardon, have you a preference? We have all kinds and I believe in borrowing for guests. The kitchen staff doesn't always appreciate what they have. And... just sluagh, or may I invite my friend? she is a sidhe, but I like her anyway"

"The rules are different, of course, but aye. Perhaps you could share your favorite tea with me? I do have a fondness for curdled cream, if available."

"ooo i love curdled cream. it shall be so. normally i'd invite you to a lovely set of supply rooms near some piping but alas it has been positively infested with daywalkers" A sigh "we shall simply have to have tea in storage area five... you might actually like that better. " he gives her directions "And it will be less crowded. is within the hour too great a rush?"

"Nay. Shall I appear there as myself?"

"Please. I wish to show my friend I am successful. we'll not betray you" A pause "I shall find somewhere else for my boggan friend to be. she's nice, but..well, a boggan."

"Understood."

And so, within the hour, Zara finds herself at Storage Area five, remarkably dim, with wooden crates all over in a dusty setting. One crate is used as a table, and has candles and cracked china awaiting.

(Perception plus alertness)

/roll 7

Slip is there, with a young sidhe with a shiney new metal arm , clearly a dougal... yet zara's nose is drawn to the crates. something within them smells.. wonderful.

Zara has removed the wig, though she's still in a somewhat uncharacteristic black outfit. "Master Slip. Young Countess."

The Duchess says "Please, call me Cauley, I am told rank is tacky at teas?" She looks at her friend to be sure. Slip nods, and the sidhe says "Well, I like my title ,but I can put it to the side then. Manners. And you have been wronged, Miss Zara."

Slip whispers "don't rush the tea, Cauly. "

"What is stored here, if I may ask?"

"Oh, old books" Cauly says "Mostly duplicates we already have or ones that will be replaced for newer editions"

"it smells nice, doesn't it?" Slip smiles and pours tea. His favorite has a lemony scent, not too heavy

"It does indeed. Is there a plan for them?"

"They're often offered up to smaller holds in the Duchy, but alas there aren't always many takers" Cauly answers "It is possible they'll just be sold on the cheap to free up space."

"they keep scheduling it" Slip says "But I like this room so I keep stealing the schedule before it can happen so they have to remember to do it when they realize it still hasnt happened"

"it's true, slip has held off the removal of the books from this room for over 11 months now" Cauley says impressed by her friend, "Miss Zara, would I be rushing tea to extend apologies on behalf of my duke and the hold?"

"Mm."

"Too soon" Slip tuts at his friend, then says "Pardon Miss Zara, she's a dougal, and they like to get right to work on a project, not knowing others enjoy the ritual. Cauley is a good leader though, our motley thrives thanks to her. if you like the books here i'm sure they'd not notice any relocated, but these aren't where the rare occult tomes are kept"

"I wonder if there are those who are in need, who would not know to buy them..."

"Who would you suggest?" Cauley asks curiously "We of Cauley's Crazed Crusaders seek to make things fair, just to spite the grown ups as WELL as do what' right"

"Lots of fun" slip agrees

"Children. Fae and mortal."

"We shall see to the relocation if you wish?" Cauley offers "Some of the books are a bit too adult.. that is, boring, but others might be interesting"

Slip says "We might even give the grown up books to old folks who are poor , being poor is great for fiction, but not always great for people."

"....Senior homes?"

"Oooh yes, " Cauley nods "We shall be extra careful for they can be gray or even banal, but that's all the more need. Thank you, Miss Zara." A look to Slip "Am I s upposed to answer more of her quesstions now?"

"She'll show polite interest, perhaps in a round about way" Slip explains to his friend, "Sometimes she would offer first, but as we're trying to make amends this maybe a quid no pro"