#baronyofthesilverwolf

What's that? Definitely something there! The janitor continues his work, stopping to check something on the ground, which he plucks up and turns over in his hands, examining it, before pocketing and resuming raking.

She blinks and moves towards tthe man

She can hear him whistling to himself cheerfully as he works. As she gets closer, he glances over, and tips his hat to her. "Can I help you?" Up closer, he looks not unlike a boggan, which is a kith she is quite familiar with, but not quite the same? Short for a grown man at about only 5 and a half feet tall, with brown hair that has a bit of a reddish tint, coming in more prominently on his neatly trimmed beard His eyes are bright under bushy brows, and show laugh lines around the edges.

But he is kithain right? Whatever he is. (Darn right of ignorance)

That he is! Pausing to lean on his rake, and look up at her - yep, he looks all the way up, properly meeting her gaze where her true troll height sits.

"How many of us are there at this school?" then she says "Pardon my manners. I'm gwen" She offers a hand

He gives a glance over the grounds to ensure that no one is peeping - it's clear, everyone else seems to be at class - before wiping his hand on his trousers and taking hers to shake. His hand has nice calluses that speak to a working man's occupation - not the same as the one's Gwen is starting to form herself from practicing with spear and weapons, but no soft lounge-about here. "Top o' the Morning to Ye', lassy!" He says, in an Irish brogue that sounds right out of a commercial for marshmallow cereal.

She carefully does NOT laugh but coughs a bit in her throat, "You really say that? I mean.. nice to meet you, sir"

He laughs, and drops the fake accent. "ou must be a new student here, as I've not seen you about, and I'd surely recognize you. But there cannot be that many young trolls with skin such as yours, so you must be the Baron's fledge, if the name wasn't a give away enough. Daniel O'Grady, at your service."

"Yes, Mr. O'Grady" she blushes "And you had me going there" A smile of relief comes out, but a bit of embarrassment too at mention of her skin "it comes in handy sometimes. Are we tthe only kithain here that you know of?"

"Oh, I wouldn't say that. Students come to CCHS from all over the area. There's bound to be a few marshmallows sprinkled into the wheat bits, eh? Not that I make a habit of keeping track o' them once they're hatched. Wilders gotta do what wilders gotta do, and I'm happy enough to help clean up afterwards and keep noses off their trails. After all, I was a wilder once, don't you doubt it. I do keep an eye out for fresh arrivals, just in case they need a hand. Chrysalises are seldom dull, but the last year has kept everyone at home, and even if they are brewin' a soul, it's been hard times enough to not be warm enough for sprouts, if you get my drift."

"You're right. I should tell the Reeve" She ponders aloud, then says "And maybe look for it myself. Anything I can do to help you, Mr. O'grady? the baron is tryinng to do more outreach?"

Yes, she's already defaulting to her duties and helping. The influence of two troll thanes and a boggan will leave it's mark

His bushy eyebrows go up in surprise. "Is he now?"

"Excuse me if I work while we chatter." He starts up the raking again, pulling the dead leaves, grass, and some random bits and detritus - fast food wrappers? Tsk. Over towards a trash can.

"Of course" She says, but makes note that some kids smuggle in fast food "There's a nnew Reeve to help with that"

"Tryouts are next week, and there's much to do if this field will be ready." Not a complaint, but conversation. "Is that so? And what do you think of her?"

"I don't know her that well but.... She's generous, and she treats her dog well, bonus point in my book. I will say she seems to be giving everyone a chance, I know Varich have a bad reputation with sluagh but she's so far heard them out. I think if you have a complaint or a concern she'd hear you out. She really wants to prove herself. "

"Good to her dog, you say? Well, the Varich house does have a reputation of being fair and respectful to those who serve. I'd say that most would be willing to give Lady Nadeen a fair shake. She starting up at school as well, or has her duties taken her beyond such mortal trappings?" He scoops up the trash into the bin, gives it a shove down to make more room, and tops it off with the last of the leaves before tying the bag.

"I don' t know, I don't think she's coming here but.. she really didn't talk to me about it. I might ask her to visit. Might be some folks here forggotten, or even, like you said , a chance at a dream dance waitinng to happen" Realization "hey, uhm about the art classes, there was a chill? Do you know about that?"

He rubs at his beard, curiously. "I try to keep an eye out for any forgotten. It's a toss up, see. On one hand, who notices the Janitor? On the other, one DOES notice the janitor that suddenly takes an interest in the students." He shakes his head, "Shame that the world we build fosters such distrust, and double so the need for it. But I watch for what I can, and if any are in need, what I have is to share. That is the way, after all."

And a frown at the art room. "I'd steer clear of that, there are after school programs or other outlets if you feel like creating."

"I'll help. That way less channce of you getting tagged unfairly " She says sympathetically "And yeah, I'm trying music. What's up with the art studio? Please tell me it's not the teacher her or himself?"

"Sorry to disappoint, Gwen, but that seems to be the way of it. The old teacher retired last year, and the substitute they brought in has his own ideas of what constitutes 'proper' art. Perhaps he's not wrong, in his own way, as structure can help spur creation, but I hear the gossip, and more than a few students aren't happy with the new classroom syllabus. Detention for not following assignment guidelines, and some truly inspired pieces failed for not following the rules."

"Wow. that.. sucks" She admits and is very glad she took music "Thanks, mr. O'grady. I appreciate the warning. I wonder if the students who are't happy with it would like another outlet? Not that I can think of one but you know.. something. "

"Dropping a class without appropriate cause can end up with a bad grade, so they may be stuck." He muses. "There are after school clubs they might look into. Those generally get a teacher as club advisor, but there's no rule that strictly says that the art teacher needs to advise the art club."

"I . might have an idea," She ponnders Chuck's motther "But nothing in stone yet. Thanks again, Mr. O grady"

He tips his hat to her again. "You can call me Danny on the casual. And feel free to call if I can help. Regards to your Baron and Reeve."

"Will do" And she heads off. It's odd to her, this place isn't without magic of it's own, but it's like looking at the magic through the wrongg of a telescope, the wonderful is further back, the mystical not so much smaller yet still a harder target to lock onto. Still, it's exciting .

After all, isn't school a good place to learn and practice for the real world!

Well, REAL is relative she remindnns herself. She REALLY is a troll.

She checks the time. Probably best to go home.

It's a bit of a walk - probably better part of an hour at a brisk pace. Or she can call Marigold or someone for a ride...

Actually, checking her phone, she sees a text from earlier.

Linnea: Let me know when you're done at school, I can pick you up.

A blush Oh gee I kept her waiting

TXT: If the offer's still good, I could use a ride. Or I can walk home if you're busy

TXT: Not at all. Come meet me on the trail out past the main road. We'll ride.

And she goes to the trail typing TXT: Will do

Linnea is waiting where she indicated, next to two horses that at first glance seem to be picketed, but on closer look, the ropes are slack and both animals have their freedom. Not that they're likely to run off, even with the noise carrying over from the road - fae horses, at least any from AIDEN'S stables, are too well trained, and they use their freedom mostly to wander a few steps closer to this or that tender looking sprig of grass.

The troll thane is dressed a little nicer than a casual ride might indicate, and is currently - fussing with how her necklace sits just so on her shirt? Until she notices Gwen, and rises. "Fledge... mount up." A smile over to her. "Spring is here, which means Summer and Fall are coming. That means hunting season, and unless you want to be left behind, that means more riding practice."

A woof-woof-woof bellows out, and Ivan also springs out of a bush where he was sniffing.

"Also, this beast wouldn't stop moping the entire time you were away."

"Oh! " She does bend down to hug Ivan first "hey, you... missed you so much" yes a moment of snuggle wuggle woo which is perhaps utterly lacking in troll decorum, but then it's over and she says "Right. Practice it is." A breath, and she gets on the horse "So much to tell you"

The stallion prances a bit as she mounts up - a bit more of a difficult steed than she normally has. It looks like she's going to be learning more than they teach in school... and Ivan trots alongside easily as they start down the trail, heading - southwest, rather than northeast?

"I figured you could tell us about your day on the way to Dark Gate." Linnea remarks with casual nonchalance. "Marigold sent a basket to deliver to Bridge Sylvi."

"Oh, that's very nice " Her eyes dance but she hides her smile. "Well, let's see... where to start? I guess at the begining. I may have made an enemy.." And she relates about Artie and how rotten Kristenn was. She mentions Chuck and Pam and yes JB... she then goes a bit more grim as she mentions the cold vibe from the art class.. and how Mr. O Grady later confirmed things. While some of it is very much a teenn girl chatinng, she also brings up the keypoints of duty too.

Linnea listens, and expresses approval. "Look out for them. They will not all be your friends, but they may need protection, none-the-less."

"Thanks. I'm rather worried about PAM if she's going to art..." And.. yes, strategies on the way tto Dark gate

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