#baronyofthesilverwolf

set the channel topic: Reclusive Ailil Barony in Carthage, New York

Nadeen approaches the Silverwolf barony, another package in her hands.

She finds Briar sitting on the porch, chewing on a few handfuls of roasted meat. She looks a bit annoyed, despite the fragrant treat.

"Briar, how are you?" She can tell not happy but she asks anyway. Maybe the girl will vent

A growly complaint! "Annoyed. Got shtuck scouring goddamn pots for no good reason. I'm pretty shure I was cheated and then the old lady TRICKED me into tearing up my hands on that damn shoap and shteel wool." A vindictive chomp at the meat.

"Offered me gloves like I'm shome kinda panshy-ash elf with delicate nailshies and manicure that's made of shugar and would melt if I touched dirty water."

"We elves do hate to lose a good manicure" She cops to it and takes a seat nearby "Well, I don't know if anyone meant to trick you,, but it is pretty obvious you're as tough as they come. My girlfriend is like that, really tough. But sometimes she humors others into letting them fuss over her so they'll feel better.. .AND get out of her hair sooner."

She nods, and takes another bite of the meat. "THEN she offered me lotion. LOTION! Like I'm shome pampered prissh." Railing at the terrible state of affairs. Though, the greasy meat does seem to be coating the chapped hands with oil.

"They shay that I'll get theshe bracesh off in the Fall." A toothy and metallic grin. "Then I can chomp right THROUGH the bonesh."

"Are we talking about Marigold? or Bluebell doing this?" And she nods then smiles "Finally, teeth free to do what they were meant to do"

"Old Marigold offered me glovesh. It was Queen Bitch that offered me her lotion, all "Oh you poor dear, look at thoshe handsh, tsk tsk." Miming a baby-talk coo, A snap at the meat. "Shee if she givesh me that shugar-shyrup fake schweet voice when I have my teeth. I ain't got no oath holding ME from teaching her how to talk to a 'Cap. And she'sh not the bosh here, no matter- " SHe stops, and shoves the rest of the meat in her mouth.

And Nadeen waits, and when it seems the girl has finished that, simply says "you were saying?"

"I'm shaying, I'm gonna be the bosh of ME." Licking her fingers. "What'sh in the box?"

"A gift for Baron Aiden" She admits "What can I say? I like an excuse to shop"

"Lemme see!" She demands, craning her head towards the box but not grabbing it outright - Redcap politeness!

"Fine, but we see with our eyes, not our hands" She opens the box and there is some fancy paper... and under that, a set of four shot glasses

"I had them strengthened tougher than regular glass, but bruiser that you are you have to be gentle if you ever get to handle one"

"You can barely get anything in there! What'sh that shupposed to be, a mug for neversh?"

"The dragon ish cool, though." She adds begrudgingly admiring. "Lotsh of teeth."

"It's called a shot glass, good for one 'shot' of adult beverage. " A smile "And dragons are cool. I thought they'd fit in an Ailil hold and that the Baron might like them. So have you seen him today?"

"Yeah, he's out playing with the dogsh. Making them chew up dummiesh. If you ashk me, they should send GWEN in there, they'd chip a tooth before they bit through her shkin, but they'd chase 'er around and around." A boisterous laugh.

"Gwen, ah, the new troll. I'd forgotten about her" Not true, but she recalls the redcap seemed surly about the girl so acting like Gwen is forgetable might both cheer her up and win a bit of fondness.

"I thought she'd shtay at the Fancy-Hold for shure. So it's her fault I had to scrub dishes all day." A grumble, wiping her hands on her pants and standing. "If she ruinsh the dogsh with pampering then th' Boss will kick her out for shure. She treats her hound like a pocket poodle. C'mon."

Heading down the pathway towards the kennels, expecting the Baroness to follow her. "Ushed to be I'd help out with the dogsh. I did a good job too!" Defensive against an attack that didn't manifest. "But now, oh look, the wee fledge needs training, don't you worry about it, she can do thoshe choresh. " Kicking at a rock that hurtles through the bushes and startles songbirds into sudden flight.

"That must be terribly frustrating" Nadeen follows indeed, "Have you thought of telling anyone you LIKE the dogs?"

"Why would I like those shtinking, hairy, shedding no good mutts?!" Another stone picked up and hurled, this one rattles a tree and a squirrel above shrieks curses down, along with a pinecone that bounces off the path by Nadeen's feet! "I'm jusht here until I get my teeth, then I'm the bossh of me and I can do whatever I want. Maybe I'll go to some fancy elf home and work as the garbage dishposal. Or an unseelie one where I can 'hide' the bodiesh."

"A good question, but I notice you never said you didn't like them" Nadeen dares lightly, eyes sparkling then she considers "If I ever claim a hold, perhaps I'll have need of you for some dirty ugly work that only a cap could do right. I could use a pro"

She glares back at Nadeen, cautious, waiting for the trick or the joke, the cruel taunt that comes with the kind-sounding words. When it doesn't come... Briar grunts and nods. "Don't be too long about it. All goes well, I get my teeth before winter. Maybe I'll run off." Stomping onwards a bit longer. "...Maybe not."

Nadeen makes a note of this and nods. "Choices are like roses with thorns. Depending on which grip you take, you could end up bleeding, but no reason not to enjoy the scent even if it didn't turn out like you hoped" I hope I'm making the right choices

Briar tromps along, and jerks her chin towards the kennel at the end of the path. "There you go. Don't let the dogs smash those weeny cupsh. I'm going to look for more meat."

"Good hunting" SHe says, and moves to the kennel

Today, it seems that the dogs are working on scent training. A dozen small obstacles set out in the large run - a small bucket, some rocks, a mixing bowl, a leafy branch, and so on. The dogs bell eagerly just out of sight, and Aiden carries a handkerchief - as she approaches, he spritzes it lightly with some perfume or cologne, and chooses a blind to hide it under. Backing away and watching, he calls, "Alright Gwen, release!"

And Gwen does!

While Nadeen watches quietly, not going to intrude yet. the dogs need to focus

And the furry hoard is set loose! A tide of floof rolling over the land with fluffy tipper-tappers and galloping toebeans. Someday, they will be a mighty force, a gale against the darkness. For now, they are sweet as a pennywhistle at midday.

One pup barrels straight into a bucket and gobbles a treat she finds below. Another finds a similar handkerchief under the branch, and his littermate grabs it as well, setting up a tug and a rip of silk! Two others sniff around futily, and a third plopped his butt right on the ground and watches, puzzled.

Ivan sniffs the air, and trundles over to plop on the ground in front of Aiden. "Whuff!"

A small frown. "Go, find the scent." His head tilts. "Whuff."

The Baron gestures again sharply, pointing towards the blinds with the hand that holds the cologne bottle. "Seek! искать!" The command repeated in the russian he uses for firm commands!

Gwen watches worried. She's been firm enough with Ivan, right?

Nadeen is amused

Another one of the pups scents the wind, then runs over, snaps playfully at Ivan's ear, then plants her rump next to him. The others notice and all rum over, and their tails wag as all seven of the pupper pack surround Aiden. He looks baffled.

Looking over the yard towards where the target is hidden under a stone - no, a bit of silk still shows, it didn't blow away, And he notices Nadeen! "Baroness Dancingsnow," He calls over. "I'm sorry for you to witness this. I'm not certain what got into them today. Maybe I have been training too hard."

Gwen looks really hard to see where the dogs are sitting "Is it possible there's something where they're at they think is the target, Baron?"

well, if there's anything special about it

"I apologize if I have some how distracted them," Nadeen moves forward "I brought a small gift under pretense of visiting" a smile

He looks around. Checks his feet, moves them to look beneath where he was standing... then finally catches sight of the cologne bottle, filled with the scent they are to track, in his own hand. His mouth twists with an unspoken curse, and he looks like he wants to throw it for a moment, before he puts his hands on his hips, giving Ivan a stern look.

"I bet you think you're smarter than me, don't you, Ivanovich?"

"WUFF"

Stern look cracks into the smallest of smiles. "Today you might be right, I HAVE been training for too long. Clearly I need a break." Reaching down, he pats Ivan on the head. "Smart boy. Khorosho - Good."

Gwen beams "Ivan's a bright boy yes he is"

Then she remembers there's a guest and coughs into her hand.

Nadeen says "I wish I brought his sister, but she's at the vet . Nothing untoward, just a check up. "

"Ivan is, perhaps, a lazy boy." He allows a smile to Gwen. "But taking shortcuts that lead to a quicker result can be it's own brand of smart. Just don't try that on a trod." He sets the cologne aside, and gives Ivan the prize, a large twist of dried elk meat. A handful of smaller treats handed to Gwen. "Please reward the others as well, in order of their ingenuity."

Stepping over to join the guest, he bows. "Nadeen, it is a pleasure." A small frown at the gift - confused, not upset. "I'm afraid my nameday was several months ago. Rather belated, when we had not yet met."

Gwen nods "Yes, Lord," And she moves to the puppies "Don't think I wasn't watching you guys. I know which ones of you were ahead of the game. Yes I do"

"Then think of this," Nadeen says "if you like, as making amends for my terrible timing." A chuckle "I enjoy shopping anyway, and when I saw this, I thought your hold might like it"

Up close, Aiden smells of the cologne, a delightful sandlewood scent that accents the touch of sweat from the day's exertion.

Accepting the box, he looks within, and smiles! "Ah, the silver dragon! Alas that I have yet to find a palatable drink in proper Ailil Sable - they'll still stand out delightfully with brandy or cognac, and honor Varich as well for the gift, filled with the color of an amber sunset."