#baronyofthesilverwolf

Julius is in his office, the door uncharacteristically closed. Silence from within, though very keen ears might catch the sound of typing, interspersed with the scribble of a pen on paper.

Tapping on the door

"What?" Julius's voice is annoyed.

She takes that as a clue to come in, "Dame Lavender here" She says

The steward glances up at her, then back to his work. "I'm very busy. What do you need?"

"Permission to track down Bluebell and stop her from going to the airport" she says

With a straight face

He blinks for a moment, then shakes his head. "You should know better than to believe a pooka, Dame. She's not going anywhere. Where would she go?"

"I know a sentimental troll at Rivervale that would welcome her," She says honestly, "And while Dark gate is an ally, they would honor Haven. You underestimate her resources. Hell some holds might snatch her up at least until Pennons as a Ringer for dance."

"Did she put you up to this? Listen, I know Bluebell, and she'd go on a wild hunt before she'd leave Silverwolf." He scribbles onto a page, and stabs the period at the end of the sentence with rather more energy than is called for. "It's just Beltaine that has her in a tizzy. She'll get over it."

"No, Bluebell did not put me up to this, and you, are really confussing our kiths' ability to roll with it with a univeral thing. You two yelled loud enough to get attention, but the silence after, much bigger," A pause 'Beltaine in a tizzy? How come I don't get the tizzy didnn't have to do with choice of flower decorations?"

"It's not her fault." He says in a placating tone. "Yeah, I got upset, but everyone argues now and then. You understand satyr moods? Well, she has animal instincts. Spring energy and playing with a cute toddler has her in a nesting mood. Once we get past the holiday, she'll stop fussing about nonsense. I'll get her some flowers or take her to a show, and we'll be right as rain."

"This is about Rian, or more accurately, Rian set this off." A frown "You do know she almost got in trouble right?"

He sets down his pen. "I'm sorry he wandered off, okay? If she didn't want to watch the kid, she shouldn't have volunteered, and then foisted it on me!"

"Foisted.. huh" A look "Julius, do you hate little kids or something?"

"No, I hate trying to be manipulated by someone who thinks she's a clever rabbit. I don't mind them, okay? But spending time with one, even a cute thing like that kinain boy, that doesn't mean I want to suddenly HAVE kids. Now, or ever. Like I said, she's just got spring fever. Once she gets over it, we'll all get on with our lives."

"A moment ago, you said she had animal instincts. Now I don't know abou that, but I wouldnn't be surprised if she had animal aspects to her soul, but with the Dreaming I'd figure the dreams about them are more important than the biology. Owls? Actually not bright, but I bet the owl pooka have a wisdom or cultivate it. That kinnd of thingg. She's got RABBIT aspect, and you think her desire for a family is just a 'spring fever' thing?" Her brows nerly shoot up to her horns, "Julius. you may not want to be a father, but I think she does want to be a mother. This isn't something you can ignore."

"What am I supposed to think? She never said boo about it before, and now it's all she keeps pushing me about! I get it, she's a pooka, but if she wanted to talk about it she'd have found a way!"

"I'm not saying this is your fault, I'm saying this is your, plural your, problem." She says "Julius, you're being dismissive of her feelings. That's something I never thought you'd do. You love her deeply yes? I mean, you've been faithful in body as well as heart and that's not easy for our kith"

"Of COURSE I love Bluebell, and I want to spend my life with her! But that doesn't mean I'm suddenly going to want to bring another human into the equation. Kids change things!" His voice raising in tone. "Just look at Aiden. He had a perfect life, until they had to go and have a kid, and look at him now. Look at HER now." He snaps this out, and then closes his mouth and looks away, immediately regretting it.

Lavender gives a stunned look, then says "Did you tell Bluebell you're afraid she'll end up undone like Dahlia?"

He pushes his papers aside roughly and stands. "No. I just... we have a good thing. We're HAPPY. Why does she want to shake things up?"

"You're not angry at her, you're terrified," She realizes then says "Look, I can't speak for Bluebell, hell, sometimes Bluebell can't speak for bluebell, curse of the kith. But .. dude, you proposed. That's.. that's a major shake up there. She goes from your lover to your beloved. She becomes a part of you all the time and vice versa. Even I know it's a spiritual union. You think thatt's not a shake up? It's a rewrite of a woman's identity in some many ways it's scary. Guy's identity too. Society wise, psychology wise, .. and more. "

He frowns. "If I knew that a ring would flip a switch in her brain..." Shaking his head. "I don't wanna say I have cold hooves, but. Us two? We make sense. Add a kid in the mix, and suddenly you have a little mortal to keep watch over, and it's not like going to work to keep bedlam at bay, that's a 24-7 job. And more likely than not, they won't be fae. We have a GOOD THING going. We've got a hold that welcomes us, good jobs, and stability. I'm happy ... I thought she was happy, too."

"Well, she's not seeing this as you looking after her, she's seeing this as you being a selfish jerk who is only concerned with what HE wants. Honestly, you two are great together, and she is happy, she loves you- you jackwagon, or it wouldn't hurt her so much that you dismissed her dreams of family as if it were merely the season...which sounds a bit like telling a woman she's being hormonal by the way. Even when we ARE hormonal, guys don't get to play that and walk away happy. You're supposed to act everything's fIne while we set fires." A sigh "Which isn't always fair either. But my point is.. you need to tell her what you've told me. Not tonight."

"But soon.." A sigh "Annnd if I may suggest as someone who HAS butted in because she likes you both and wants you to do well? Have you considered adopting? Eventually SOME childling channgling is going to need mentors. Talk to your bride about that option... you'd be a good dad, Julius. And Blue bell would be a great mom. But maybe a changelinng foster would be better for your both? Hell, Marigold has become a mother figgure to Gwen and that's not even official"

He sighs. "It's not fair. Life's not fair. And no, not yet. Gwen's still a fledge, even if Mari had me find out the paperw-" He stops, and gives her a glance. "You didn't hear anything about that. "

"Me? I'm just a knight, sworn to rescue folks in need ... fight for justice honor, love.. and I have. My point remains, you two need to talk before beltaine. Don't lose a good thing, but don't be afraid of it even getting better." A smile "Me? I've got to get some supplies for something. Thanks for hearing me out even if you probably want to plant a hard hoof in my ass"

He shakes his head ruefully. "You're right on both counts. I need to talk to her, AND I want to put a hoof in your ass. ...thanks."

She grins at that, "You're welcome" And trots off off, closing the door behind her. Singing that old ballad, 'I"m too sexy' by Right Said Fred

(end Scene)