#baronyofthesilverwolf

The address provided is outside of Carthage proper, and at first glance, the yard seems to be aspiring towards "junk yard" vs. "front yard." Equipment of all sorts is strew about - but with a second glance, it's ATOP the most recent snow, so it must be a recent addition, and not things that have sat out rusting all winter long.

The shop door is locked, but a note in the window says "DELIVERIES IN REAR" and muffled conversation is heard from within.

"I'm not shy about folks going in the back door" She works to the deliveries area to see if it's more private anyway

"-And I told you, you're being STUPID! You're bonkers for passing it up, you lame-brained shovel-jockey!" An irate female voice.

"...I don't see why you're so upset." The mild male response comes. "It's not like I'm making you do any extra work. I don't mind it, after all."

A crash! "It's the PRINCIPAL of the thing! You could be a dozen - THREE DOZEN times more efficient. I mean, just look!" The lady snaps back.

A rattling sound, like pulling a lawnmower cord... a held breath... and then a soft thrumming. "See, smooth as silk." She says.

A knock on the backdoor (or window) now that the sounds have.. dimmed

"WHAT?!" The female snaps. "Just leave it at the door!"

The door is opened and a boggan peers up at the Satyr Knight. "Oh, my. You are not a UPS shipment. Zelda, we have a guest." He calls back. A wilder of middling twenties, dressed in a snowsuit that is half unzipped and pulled back to allow for ease of motion. As he moves back, gesturing inward, "Come in, come in." Dee is invited into a workshop filled with miscelanneous and mysterious contraptions on every surface.

Humming on the floor is what looks like a weird hybrid between a snowblower and a weedwacker, but with a propane tank bolted to the back... And standing, hands on her hips next to it, is a slender and scowling Nocker with messy hair pulled back in a bun. "If she's not UPS, then where are my lugnuts?" She demands.

"Dame Lavender D'Lorean, in service to the Baron of Silverwolf. I take it you two are Adler Steinschlag and Zelda Kuchenfritz?"

"Why ye-" the boggan starts to respond, but the Nocker shoves forward and jerks his arm hard enough to pull him back a step. "Why are you asking? We ain't done anything!"

Suspicious glare as she looks over the knight.

I admit. I am SO tempted to impersonate a detective from the twenties 'the jig is up, see. It's curtains for you, lacy glorious curtains unless you come clean' Lavender again supresses and says "Well, the Baron is extending invitations to Carnival"

Adler exchanges a wordless glance with Zelda, and speaks up. "Why, that's... right neighborly of him. Carnival at SILVERWOLF?" Extending a hand out for the invitation. "And do come in, it's a sty but it's warm. Can I get you coffee, a danish? And yes, I'm Adler, and my partner there is Zelda."

"Equal partners, mind you. Even if his initial comes first." She snaps back. Evidently a point of some contention there.

"I don't control the alphabet, Zee." He sighs.

"Some say they save the best for last" She says 'No offense, sir"

(Pause)

"No offense taken. She's my better half, in invention after all. Me, I just have the elbow grease and a mind for the books." Adler says.

Zelda retorts, "Don't be daft. If it was up to you, you'd do work for free on every sob story who walked in the door!" She rolls her eyes and gives Dee an elbow to the gut that clanks off her armor. "Good exposure, BAH. You want repeat customers, you gotta give 'em something NEW. A shovel's a shovel, but the Snowcinerator 4001, now THAT'S what this winter called for."

"Sounds like. A danish and drink is fine... thank you, ANyway.. yes, the baron is holding carnival. Participation is not mandatory but you are invited as note worthy citizens of the realm"

"Noteworthy? Does that mean we're no longer blacklisted?" Zelda asks, eyes flashing.
Adler sighs a touch as he pours coffee, and offers it to the visitor along with a danish on a paper plate. Not homemade, but locally made, judging from the box. Or the stack of boxes from days past - they seem to be a favorite here. "She exaggerates, there was never anything official - "

"What would you call an order with sovereign spit-roasting me from apple to arsehole that if I showed my face again I'd be fed into my own woodchipper?" Zelda snaps back! "And it wasn't even a furkin wood chipper! I'll show HER a woodchipper...."

A wince from the boggan. "Paraphrased. There was a bit of an incident with a device meant to streamline cleaning. It was built for chicken coops, but failed to work precisely as intended on the larger area of the mews."

"Dame Calanthe?" Lavender guesses

Adler smoothly heads off Zelda's tirade. "It was an unfortunate incident that may have been forstalled if we'd been given appropriate time to research the difference in size and layout of mews vs. coop. But that's neither here nor there."

"The furkin feathers grew BACK." The nocker grouses. "Never did get paid for the cleaning service."

"They didn't charge us for fixing the wall either." He adds. "It evened out, more or less. Definitely lost several contracts after that, though."

"AH, well, we are fussy about our animals there" She admits "But in point of fact, this invite is from the BARON, not the Chancellor. In fact I'm not sure Dame Calanthe will be there. "

"It's about time." Adler says. "After all, I have family there to visit. Missus Marigold is my own second cousin's mother's brother-in-law's daughter, twice removed. Ask Mister Elias if you need to see the genealogy. He does a fine family tree."

"I wouldn't be caught dead back there!" Zelda snaps. "Not for all the gold in texas, all the sand in Arabia, all the -" She pauses. "Is Miz Mari catering?"

"Oh yes, Marigold is breaking out all the stops I hear. We have a hostess as well, but the food? All Marigold"

"Wait" She remembers "80% marigold..she allowed another cook from another land, to donate some tarts I think"

Zelda narrows her eyes. "They're not tryna edge her out, are they?"

"We'd be lost without her. I say that as a new face myself" She says "And perhaps that's nother reason to come. We have a fledge troll, we have a new knight, moi and guests who knows who else? best to get to know each other right? Can I Put you down as coming?"

"HMMMPH. You can put down a MAYBE. If we get the snowcinerator operational up to 125% by then so we can clear the garage."

"I could just shovel...." "It's the PRINCIPAL OF THE THING!" This devolves into a bit of an argument - but it seems to be an old game, as neither looks particularly upset, despite the heated Nocker language that threatens to singe ears as easily as the Snowcinerator might.

Crafter foreplay scares me She admits "A maybe. Okay. I'll tell Marigold you're wishing her well regardless. MOre of her plum pudding for me" The knight bows

"Plum pudding?" The two say in unison, and exchange glances and nods. "You can count on it, we'll be there." Adler says, and tops off her coffee to go.

"Take another goddamn pastry. I'm gonna have to start saving up room now, I'll eat you out of house and home to make up for lost time." Zelda tightens her belt.

She smiles "I'll note it down" She mucnhes her pastry, finishes her drink "Thank you for the hospitality" And leaves

"Maybe I could try a mark V of the Coop de Gras..." "DON'T EVEN THINK OF IT." They argue, as she goes!

Leaving Dame Delorean with her invitations well delivered!

(end scene)