#baronyofthesilverwolf

"I suppose..." She ducks her head a bit. Then she straightens again, and says, "..I... I think I'm afraid to give someone else that Power. I don't need someone telling me what to do.. and who I should be, and what I should feel."

Alice reaches out a hand to Gwen. "But... if you can help me - no, help Angela... find my... her own strength, so she.. I! Can figure this out for myself - herself? I'd like that." Smiling shyly. And another hiccup. She laughs! "Excuse me!"

Aiden also looks a bit started, but whispers to Nadeen softly. "She has strong Troll instincts, our fledge."

Including her as part of Silverwolf in his simple statement.

Gwen takes the hand and whispers in the queen's ear "The therapist is not on your side. Remember that if you can. She feeds on your dreams and makes you less when she should build on them annd help you be more. Make it look natural, normal, that you no longer feel you need the therapy. And... I will be nearer than you think."

"I..." Alice blinks, and looks a bit baffled. "I'll try to remember." She promises Gwen.

"I'd like to remember everything... But it IS getting a bit spinny. Maybe we can sit down for a bit? I can WATCH a bit more dancing..."

"Acorns become mighty oaks, my queen. And the Oak is the monarch of the forest."

Gwen nods and guide her to a seat and a grateful look to the beautiful woman in green

"We shall dance for you!"

And looking at Dru... "Maybe I can have a spring garden after all. With flowers, instead of just a plain grass lawn." Thinking of a layout that resembles the pretty blooms on the Kubera.

Nadeen nods at the offer to dance

Another drink, a lighter one to keep the buzz but without too much liquor, has appeared at Alice's elbow, and she sips. "Oh, yes. Your Monarch Orders it. Dance, and sing, and make merry!"

Nadeen grabs Aiden by his cap, and gives him a kiss "Come.. let's be obeident in the gloaming fade"

Dru whirls into the music, having a grand time.

As Briar tries to sneak out, Alice calls over to her quietly. "And you, little monster." Briar looks up suspiciously. "Try to make friends. When that big fellow got run off earlier... did his pretty pal go with him? Or was he left alone?"

Briar ponders this, scowling. "I didn't see it. But... probably alone. Monsters don't have friends."

Alice sighs at this. "Everyone can have friends. You just need to find things that you have in common, with people who are different. Then you can help each other."

The little redcap watches Gwen for a moment. Stupid troll doesn't know when to fight, or how to bite. But she listens or some shit.

"Yeah, I guess you're not the worst Queen I ever had around here." Briar grunts, before plopping onto a chair. If she doesn't LOOK interested, it's okay to watch the dancing.

Aiden looks started by the kiss - but the monarch commanded! Both of the Queens did, in fact. And he dances for them both, the one on the throne and the one in his arms. He cannot do otherwise, the rules of Carnival demand.

Gwen shoots Alice a grateful look and bows low, before getting up to the karoke machine and singing ..possibly badly even as she shuffles "This one goes out to a friend... and it's gonna be done badly but she'll probably enjoy that" And she sings this really old song called Heathens by 21 Century Pilots

She is not trained

Fortunatley, the music drowns out her voice a lot

Nadeen sighs "Oh dear, what a song to pick" A chuckle. She can only wonder how THAT will be recieved

Briar listens and cheers "Boo! You Suck!" But... she IS cheering.

Alice watches them dance, her gaze lingering on the lovely flower woman who is so fresh, so green and fresh and growing free. Admiring her.

Marigold, Dolph, and Billy ended up at a table with Black Jack, who stuck around... and didn't even care when they lost all of their pocket change in impromptu poker.

Shawn crept back into the Ballroom, and fell asleep in Bluebell's lap. While this prevented her from dancing for a while, she strokes the fluffy hair on the sheepish boy's crown, and dreams a dream of her own.

Julius challenges everyone to sing songs, one after the other! They even come around to Aiden, and he tries to demur... "Then I will chose one for you..." the Baron frowns, resisting the temptation to check his watch to see if he HAS to listen... and Finally nods.

A screen pulls up the lyrics, and the Ailil gets a bit of a deer in the headlights look as the music is a sprightly country beat!

Nadeen covers her mouth in shock

"Midnight... waiting for the... the 1205." He stumbles over the lyrics, his cheeks blazing red even under the pale motley makeup.

Julius relents and takes the second microphone, and joins his Liege, singing along. With a voice to back him up, they sing together.

"Playin' with the Queen of Hearts
Knowin' it ain't really smart
The Joker ain't the only fool
Who'll do anythin' for you..."

The Mortal Queen Cheers! And this helps. Aiden seeks out Nadeen - his eyes are half "Help me!" and half, "Listen to me!" A tiny smile, enjoying it despite the embarasment.

And Nadeen..dances, country is not her sort... but she strides in front of Aiden, flirt dancing with him, oh and perhaps the crowd

And because it IS Carnival, the Ailil lord will... not call for his steward's head, nor for the heads of the small folk for listening.

Carnival draws to a close, with singing and dancing, drinking and laughter... and perhaps some fighting amongst the Nockers, as they must debate the proper use of a crowfoot wrench vs. an adjustable bar spanner for proper repairs of a faulty microwave compressor. But to each there own, and merriment rules.... and the Mortal Queen finds her way safely home.

And if a certain sexy piskey steals his way into some dame's bed? Well, that's up to HER if she kicks him out or not.

Gwen will escort her

A deep sleep lies over the Chesterton household.. ensuring that no one knew that Mother and Wife was truant on adventures.

Oh hell... fair's fair, while she's suprised to find the Piskey there, three's a magic number and if he and Billy the Goat pooka are both okay with it, Lavender's willing to consider 😉

A touch of that holiday magic, and a bit of Pan, and... what happens at Carnival stays at Carnival!

-fin-

The morning after Carnival, by the time most of the folk are stirring, the manor has been cleaned back to pristinity. Decorations tidied away, broken crockery whisked from the kitchen, and all back to normal.

A polite knocking on Nadeen's guestroom door.

Nadeen opens her eyes and wonders why she's not in her room, then she stops oh.. right. Shes' not even in the same Duchy anymore

"Baroness?" Linnea's voice, but lowered. "It's coming on lunch time. If you're still abed, I can come back later."

"Lunch time? Oh my. I'm so sorry. " She rises

And opens the door just a crack "Thane I apologize. I didn't mean to be a slug abed. " her hair falls into that perfect windswept 'just got out of bed ' look but onnly as Hollywood would define it

"Isn't it?' Linnea blinks, and checks her watch. The sun shining in through the window... Nadeen's own clock says it's closer to 8:30am.

Tap tap, the thane taps her watch - it's ticking... and shows 12:23. A sigh. "Bluebell. I knew I shouldn't have joked about her supposed to be being the white rabbit. I tell ONE joke a month, and the thanks I get. Well, I'm up now."

"But you don't have to be... I'm sorry I woke you."

"No no..it's fine. Give me a moment to shower and freshen up? I'll be quick"

"Of course. I'm going to make coffee." She retreats.

It's actually 15 minutes later, but out comes the baroness looking elegant and regal as is her way. The Varich symbol worn proudly

Coffee is on, and Linnea is reading the back of a box of tea. "I think Marigold went for groceries, but... I can make tea if you prefer it. How many bags need to steep for a pot?"

"Coffee will be fine. The Rivervalers tend to live on the stuff, Siv likes to joke her mother takes it so strong it could boil star metal"

(And it deserved it! ☀️ )

A relieved look. "I can't work the fancy espresso machine that Calanthe insisted on - but I can brew a pot. And Marigold gets good stuff." Pouring two cups of fragrant back coffee - Linnea takes hers black and sweet, but offers milk to Nadeen as well. "Dani will drink anything, she says her tastebuds are dead from drinking the swill they keep brewing 24/7 at the station, but it keeps the engines running I suppose."

"Sorry, I'm not the best hostess. There are some pastries left from last night - Marigold hid some of the ones you brought, in fact, before that visitor could swallow them all untasted. I can fry up some eggs and potatoes if you want something more substantial?"

A ttouch of milk, a bit of sugar "I'm fine really. I had to nibble here and there when I wasn't dancing to blend in" She explains "Nibble too much and it becomes a meal. " A curious tilt of her head "Am I due for a patrol, or is there something you wanted to talk about?"

"I was going to patrol... but now I'm not due for a couple hours. I thought to invite you, if you weren't hung over." A slurp of coffee, said as a statement of fact and not judgement. "You're not on the patrol roster. At least not yet. Would you like to be? Danica or I could test your combat readiness, else you can show another method of defense. No offense." Sipping the coffee again, blissfully unaware of the pun. "We just need to ensure that anyone tasked for patrols can either deal with most threats, or has another way to stay safe until help can arrive."

"I find ordering people to their knees with dictum works pretty well, but I know how to handle a sword if need be" She says "Dame Dagmar was always guarding me on patrols...so truth I rarely got into battles." At the mention of hang over she says "Oh that's not a hard oen to get past. I toast with everyone as hostess but I know how to water down my own drinks or pretend I've taken a swallow. I had two identical goblets prepared, one with grape juice rather than redwine for that. It's all a matter of preperation. Don' get me wrong, I'm not adverse to strong drink. I rather like Vodka. But a hostess can't afford to be fuzzy and unfocused." particularly not in Calanthe's web, nor among sluagh

Linnea nods. "Does your dictum work as well on wild beasts, chimera, and mortals as on fae? Never can be sure what might be coming our way." Snagging herself a slice of pie, and leaving the rest out in case Nadeen decides she'd like a piece.