#baronyofthesilverwolf

A laugh "NOoooo... because I don't think it's fair to Kat if I flip a coin every week to see if she gets chucked into a kiln and you after"

"Fair enough." He wraps his arms around her. She might not be a petite lady that can nestle in right under his chin, but he can rest his head on her shoulder so that their cheeks just touch... and that might be even better.

Certainly seems it to her. They snnugle, she enjoys the tingles

(Fade to cuddles!)

Briar gives Rochallor what she intends as a reassuring smile. Closed-mouth, no teeth showing.

"It's all in there. I'm telling you, he'll be REAL happy if you bring him his slippers, and like, pipe and shit. Like a faithful dog. Except better, because his dogs ain't trained for that."

They stand down a hallway on one of the lower levels, past the pantry, and an area where the Pooka boy hasn't been before. The door before him is marked with a silver sigil scored into the wood, a hawk standing 'rampant', wings back, with one clawed talon raised surrounded by 3 stars.

"What, ya ain't CHICKEN, are ya? Buc-buc-buckAWK!"

At that, Rochallor shakes his head vigorously no

She flaps her arms, hands tucked into the pits. "Ya sure, because you're SMELLIN' like the Colonel's 11 herbs n spices."

The door is... forbidding, unwelcoming. Something about it seems to whisper in Rochallor's head... this is not for you. Begone.

"He could be reading his lines!" The boy says "You know how tempermenntal the hollywood types are" At the stars on the door

"My name is Roach, and I'm afraid of DOORS."

He frowns...goes to the door and..."NO, Stop! BRIAR, you're not supposed to go IN THERE!"

REALLY Loud, then he waves at her with a smile

as they are both in front of the door

"I DON'T WANT YOU IN TROUBLE , BRIAR! Please don't go in the Hawky door!"

Briar snarls and SHOVES Rochallor up against the door. Almost immediately the effect is clear, a deep chill sweeps over him that makes his teeth chatter and blood run cold. Dread seeps through him- get away from this room!

But at the same time, Briar looms - strange how the shorter girl can seem to LOOM ominously, as she snarls, "SHUT. UP. AND OPEN. THE DAMN. DOOR."

Both of the inclinations... level out, equally compelling... leaving Rochallor to decide.

"JOEY HELP!" He yells... pale as a sheet

The door compels him to flee it's touch, and the redcap orders him to stay...

"BRIAR!" A voice that is seldom raised above a hearty laugh, is raised in shock and anger as Marigold approaches, drawn by the shouting.

"You let him go RIGHT THIS INSTANT."

Rochalor does NOT Gloat that she's beenn busted. Maybe he's not a jerk, maybe he's too busy shivering

"He's LYING!" Briar blurts out, but her grip loosens and her glare blessedly breaks the intimidation effect as she tears her eyes away to look at the Steward.

the loosened grip allows him to try to break for it and get BEHIND Marigold

the whites of his eyes VERY pronounced

"Upstairs. Kitchen. NOW." Marigold reaches to put a firm hand on Rochallor's shoulder, lest he try to slip away. "That means you too, Rochallor."

Briar wheedles, "But Mari..."
"Don't you BUT me, Briar Rose. I said Now!" The middle name! The redcap sulks but scuttles past and up into the kitchen.

Rochalor gulps "But if I got to the kitchen she can use SAUCE on me!"

While Briar cannot know, Rochallor was THIS close to opening the door. She was scarier than whatever magic it had.

If no one heard his call for help? he'd have gone into it... better some scary curse than.. too many teeth

They are marched up to the kitchen, where Marigold sits them both on stools (out of arms reach of each other), and then fetches a throw blanket for Rochallor to wrap around him. The chill is passing, but he still finds himself shivering.

"Briar, do you want to explain to me what was going on down there?"

"No." She retorts sullenly.

"I see. Rochallor, how about you?"

He looks over at Brirar, gulps, then looks at Marigold and says "Joey says we were just goofing around"

Marigold gives him a loooong look. She says in a slightly softer tone, "It sounded like... this, "Joe"? Was calling for help. Did you need help? I know it's hard to say so."

Briar had shot him a surprised look, but now glares... at the floor. Not at the pooka, which is slightly better.

Rochalor's face kntts annd he looks at his hoofy feet for a long moment "Sometimes brothers and sisters don't want to play the same games. Like... maybe one wants to play Weasal goes the Pop, but the other does't...and later the other wants to play Knock Knock, In there.. and the other doesnt... but.. .."

"Maybe if you play some games you gota take the other game too, just to be fair" He is..unsure

Mariold can likely tell that the pooka is SCARED of Briar... but the glances of guilt might surprise

Rochollor does add "But.. while Joey never needs help, I bet he's glad someeone came to it when he called? "

"Thank you, Rochallor. Now you may run along, I need to speak to Briar."

He looks at Briar a bit worriied.. is he worried what she'll do after , or worried FOR her? "Okay. Joey is probably already helping at the stable" And he moves off

Marigold waits a moment, but doesn't check that he's gone... if the pooka lurks to listen outside the door.

"Briar, I make allowances for your Kith. We all do. We understand who and what you are, and we do not try to fix or change you. You understand that, right?"

... A sullen, "Yeah."

"Trying to get the new childlings in trouble, or forcing them into situations where you KNOW they may come to harm. THAT is not part of being a redcap. regardless of whether you SHOULD be practicing your abilities upon FELLOW KITHAIN... Did your little pranks inspire terror? Did they strike fear into his poor heart, and express your horrific, brutal nature?"

Briar is silent.

"Or did you try to push him into a situation where someone ELSE would punish him? A sneaky, cruel trick, that is." Marigold continues. Perhaps it is even more cutting that she is not yelling, no. She is quiet, and... disappointed.

Briar fidgets in discomfort, her chair squeaking.

Finally, Marigold finishes, "I'm not going to punish you. But this mischief ends now. You are a smart girl, Briar. I know you will find common ground if you look for it. Just ensure that you do so in ways that do not involve places you know are off limits. There are dangerous things there that not only could it hurt you, but it could hurt the hold itself if you tamper with things. Am I clear?"

Another hesitation, and "yeah."

"That's my girl. Now go off and play. OUTSIDE, mind you."

if the pooka was listening, he's not there when the command to out and play is given

Which is good, as the childling steps out, and takes a BIG sniff. She's NOT sniffling, of course not. Just... smellin' stuff. That's ALL.

Briar takes a moment to compose herself, and then heads off to find Glass to play with. Rochallor is on his own, for now.

(scene)