#baronyofthesilverwolf

His expression goes from curious to grave, and he looks at the goblet no longer with interested anticipation, but a sort of wary dread.

"So it is poison, after all." He murmurs.

"Melord?" A surprised look

He looks to Nadeen, somber. "Meddling with the threads of fate is dangerous at best, and disastrous at worst. Such a thing may seem useful, but it is a poisoned gift, tempting one to peer at the future that should remain unknown, and further tempt to try to alter fate."

"Calanthe said it bore study to make sure the prophecies wree true, but if it troubles you, we could find it's weaknesses and it's worth and then trade it"

He gazes at Nadeen broodingly. "I do not wish to deny you your treasure. There was a time when I held great store in prophesy and soothsay... I still do. But I am older, and wiser, and learned that there are many things best unmeddled with, lest you experience Oedipal results. That is, to see the future and try to change it, or to try to bend it to your will... such is folly."

"Everyone brings up Oedipus" She muses "The fellow certainly made a mark in mythology as a warning"

"He is the most well known, but far from the only one. I am my own warning story."

"This is about Connor isn't it?"

His face goes cold, and he looks away.

Nadeen puts a head on his shoulder

He reaches to put a an arm around her, drawing Nadeen to his side. "I would not repeat my past mistakes."

"Our mistakes shape who we become oft times, the fact you do not wish to repeat shows you are wiser, but do not be as the cat that learns the wrong lesson from sitting on a hot stove and never sits on ANY Stove again"

"And what good would come of the cat sitting upon a stove? Not to pick nits at your metaphor, but it seems a dangerous proposition with little to gain in any case."

"That's where the humans leave their food" She looks at him surprised he does''t know that, then smiles "Maybe we should get a cat here. It would be amusing for you to deal with a beast so intractable"

He blinks, and then smiles a little. "Have we not Calanthe?"

Snerk and she buries her head into his shoulder so she does not laugh aloud

"You sir, are trying to get me in trouble with your sister. I shall see her grooming and have to fight the urge to laugh"

"If the collar fits..." He smiles.

Okay she does giggle and burries he head again

Clearly he's gotten past his defenses at decorum

They sit for a while like so, before he says, "It is funny, in a way. That one may both worry about what the future may hold, as well as fear knowing."

"Take Julius, and his dreams of wine and vine. I fear that I stifle him, and yet, I cannot imagine running the hold without him. It is unfitting of a lord to put my own needs before the dreams of my people. And yet. Should he leave, Bluebell would certainly follow." A pang there, clearly he is very fond of the pooka lass.

"They won' t leave per se, just be on call" She reminds "It's a good way to fight bedlam now and then. But yes, he might be busy"

"What would you have of the future, Nadeen? Do you see a mortal career? Travel? ...or, as Bluebell, do you desire..." He hems a bit, before finally finishing with, "...to seek to grow a family, of your own blood?" My, what an awkward way to phrase it, and he seems to realize that as he says it.

"I seek you," She admits, "And I have ambitions, lord. But that will come in time. I suppose I shall seek out a mortal education in college at sometime, nothing fancy. " She is reluctant to admit Calanthe's throwinr her psychology degree in her face as if Nadeen was a fool for not having one irked a bit.

It is not lost on him that she didn't answer his awkward question, but he lets it go.

"I am certain that you would excel at any field of study you chose to pursue."

"Thank you," Nadeen answers, "In truth I have considered Communications."

"Communications? That is not unlike what your colleague Sylvi practices as Bridge."

"And in truth, similar to Reeve work as well."

"Similar yes," A nod "I think it's both useful in mortal and fae worlds"

"It is good that you are not forgetting your mortal needs. Gwen is going to school now, but I do think that we may need to find an outlet for Briar. I had thought perhaps a summer sports team... though I worry that allowing a small amount of aggression may turn into too much and cause issues. Shoving in Football is quite acceptable.. but getting angry at a shove and biting someone's hand off, less so in... polite company. Have you any thoughts?"

"Mmm I'm told children used to be a lot less supervised. It must be hard on redcap childlings" She ponders

"Whatt about baseball? Less personal contact"

"It is difficult. Less physical contact might not appeal to her as fun."

"Well I was hoping hurting the ball would work"

He chuckles a bit. "Perhaps. Or maybe Gwen could teach her some LaCross - I heard she is going out for the team. Redirection of force through an instrument rather than her body could allow her to get out some energy without contact that may lead to... over enthusiasm."

"Just what I considered. Of course, you could get Briar into track and tell her it will teach her how to catch prey faster?"

"Mmm. Maybe there's an intramural sports league and she could try a few things out. These are all good ideas."

"Thank you. Dagmar is very athletic so I got used to jock wrangling"

"Jock wrangling." Amused. "That's certainly an interesting way to put it. I should also have her in training with the thanes. I may have neglected that aspect, as she is not in favor of weapons other than her own, and perhaps those bladed gloves she received from Gwen."

"Gwen seems to have won her affection, not that briar will admit it"

"I am glad of it. Briar has blossomed... not that she would admit such a delicate phrasing... since Gwen's arrival. I had not realized that she was so closed off until she opened up." A small frown, worried crease on his forehead.

"You speak of her blooming, then frown?" A curious tilt

"A lord should be more attentive of his charges." He admits quietly to Nadeen.

"It should not have been up to chance for her to be given the opportunity to open up. Nor for Tiberius to be rescued, or to discover and welcome Dru into our midst. I have been lax in my duty to my people."

"Has it not occured to you, my Baron, that Briar is not the only one who has blossomed? You have come out of your shell more as well. Gwen has been a catayst, but you have responded whatever the catalyst. "

He ponders this, and gives her a smile. "Perhaps you say such to appease my worries. But even if so, it is working."

"Not just that... also you hired a reeve, that's an action for your people's sake, not just mine"

Aiden looks back to the goblet, contemplatively. "You are right. And I trust your judgement, in that, and more. Keep the goblet, if it pleases you to do so. Though, I ask you to take care and precaution in it's use, and to consult me if there is any urgent action believed warranted due to suspected prophetic events."

SHe takes it "We'll have it tripple checked. " She takes his arm "Now, let's go check on Joker"