#baronyofthesilverwolf

Danica nods. "It will be your Day, and if you wish your dreamer there, you may." Collecting the practice weapons to put away.

"My day doesn't free me of my consequence but.. thank you both" Gwen says

"Hm." Danica says, and continues her weapon maintenance.

Nadeen shakes her head "The troll capability for martyrdom never ceases to amaze me" She tends to her own weapon

First Pyschka, then Ivan, turn their heads to look down the road. A warning huff - not quite an alarm back, but an alert - someone is coming, and the two dogs stand almost in unison to guard their ladies.

Nadeen frowns "Are we expecting guests?"

Danica straightens and adjusts her belt - where hangs her weapons, sidearm for mortal and handaxes for chimerical assailants. The man who walks casually up the path is familiar, though. Long silver hair pulled back in a casual braid, with slightly pointed ears peeking out, and an outfit of voile with a black and white checked pattern tunic over leather leggings that cut a rather dashing figure. Already she gets the feeling that this fellow belongs here, after all - he just seems to fit in!

"Afternoon, Baroness. Pleasure to see you again, Miss Gwen, Miz Danica."

"That's Thane Danica, or Officer Marshall." Danica responds. "Baroness, I believe you've met Ace Piquet. He attended Carnival, as ah, 'Black-Jack'."

The piskey bows slightly, with a flourish. "You can call me what you like, so long as you call me. I go by many names."

"Ah, yes, Hello, Mister Piquet," She says with a nod "How are you today?"

"Call me Ace." He says with a grin, despite his last statement. "Fine and dandy, now that I have such a lovely view." He admires the Baroness for a moment. "I've heard scuttlebutt around town that you're looking to collect treasures. It may just be that I've managed to come across a thing or two in my time. I waited for Mohammed to come to the mountain, but now the mountain has come to Mohammad. Figured I would beat the rush."

She raises a brow News leaks like a sieve around here "You wish to make a donation to the charity drive?"

"I'd certainly welcome the opportunity to learn more about it, and how I can support the community, and our lovely Baroness - ah, pardon. Our lovely Reeve, who is also a Baroness. If not our baroness, per say, though if I had the chance to claim you as my baroness, let's just say, I would not delay." A polite tone along with the rakish grin.

Danica rumbles almost subvocally, a sound of muted disapproval, but she continues her work - even as she keeps an eye on the visitor.

"You're very flattering, Ace. As for learning more about it, we're keeping a tight lid on some things until the time is right" she says "But I can tell you donations will be used to help the local changeling community and their families. In these chilled times, any balm against mortal concerns can be of great help to our fellow kithain, don't you think?"

"Oh, certainly, certainly, certainly. With that understanding, shall we adjourn to a more private abode, away from potential prying ears?" He grins again. "I do have a little something-something I would love to you show, after all."

"Of course, pardon us , Thane, Gwen," A nod to Dancia especially "I know we'll need to talk again soon, Thane , see you in 20?" They do not have to talk again soon, but the clue for rescue in case Ace is wasting her time is there

"20 minutes it is. Gwen, help me with putting away these swords, then you are free for the afternoon." Danica shoulders her bundle and heads for the equipment storage rooms.

Gwen goes to help

And Nadeen leads Ace in "This should do for a private chat" And if the parlor she picked lacks easy to pocket items, purely a coincidence , "Please, have a seat, Ace."

He bows to her again, and slides into the seat. Ace's eyes trail over the parlor, appreciatively. "Fine digs you have here. For the auction, any hints as to the nature of the treasures we might find, hm? Between two friends?"

"I would so like to be friends." A grin again.

"I'm so glad you asked, I have a genuine E. DeBuke painting, a lovely collection of jewelry in the Czarist style, among other things, very top end ... and, of course, all with not just mortal security, but properly cantriped as a precaution to make sure the sale goes smoothly. You understand I can't share the details on the specifics of the curses involved, but trust that if you wish to donate an item, it will be in good hands"

"I do specialize in good hands." Grinning, and he shows his hands to Nadeen - empty, and then loosens his cuffs as well, "Nothing up my sleeves..." A small flourish, and there is suddenly a lighter in his hand, displayed neatly between thumb and forefinger. Surely the small silver item wasn't there before... she didn't even sense any cantrip.

"Presto, abra-cadabra, etc? All so passé." He offers the lighter over to her.

She makes a mental note to keep track of jewelry , then takes it "You have talent, Ace" And she kens

There is a spark of glamour within the lighter, indeed. Not a cheapo plastic affair, it's a nice hefty zippo-style model, refillable, and with an etched flame design on the side.

"Dare I ask the magic, Ace?" she runs fingers along it

"Dare you?" His grin widens. "Shall we play a game of truth and dare? Or do you dare to ask?" Clearly having fun with the word play.

"Ace, what does it do?" She says politely, "Please"

A momentary pout, but only a moment, before he reaches for the item again. "If I may demonstrate?"

She returns it "As it harm none, of course"

"Of course, of course." he agrees absently. With a small flourish, he flicks open the lighter, and it lights - though the flame is blue-white, and hovers over the lighter independantly, rather than stretching up a tongue from the fuel resevoir.

"Lead me to my true love." He says, grinning Nadeen's direction. The flame does not move.

"Then, lead me to my date for tonight?" Again, the small ball of light stays above the lighter... he sighs dramatically.

"Fine, fine. Lead me to the Baroness Nadeen Dancingsnow." Winking to the Sidhe. "It was worth a shot, and you miss 100% of the shots you don't take." The little globe - no, wisp, floats over to Nadeen, and then bobs in the air before her for a moment, as if to say, "What, that's it?" before winking out.

"Will O the Wisp. How handy. So sorry to dissappoint you" She inclines her head

"It is but a simple thing, true, but useful if you do not have the card in your own deck." He slides it back across the table towards her. "Tell me then, Baroness, shall I consider my contribution equivalent to, let's say, an invitation to the black-tie event? I do so like black ties, formal wear suits me nicely. Dress to impress, I always say. And a treasure I seldom use would be a small price to pay for access to an auction of others that may well suit me better." A grin at his own pun.

"Oh Ace, I think this is most generous, but has it not occured to you that if.. and I'm just theorizing here, were to ..by sheer chance, go missing from one of our wealthy folks, it might reflect badly on me?" A brow "Destroying any future such fund raisers?"

He looks honestly offended. "My Lady, I hope you are not judging me a thief due to my kith's own proclivities? Surely a lady of class and intellect like yourself can easily see the difference between a little casual lightfingered habits, quite unintentional, and premeditated theft?"

"A fair point, sir, but no I am not just judging you by your kith, but by your intense inquiries into details... whether you intended it or not, you came across as if asking for blue prints to the air vents with size of said vents included" A dimpled smile "Ace, we all know the 'big score' has a glamour all it's own. I'm not sure that's what you're after, in fact, I hope not, but I'd be remiss in not pointing out that if someone messes this up for a short term gain, the long term benefits could be lost. Maybe I'm being unfair, but why do you want an invite to such a black tie affair so badly?"

He chuckles at that. "Believe me or not, as you may, but I assure you that when it comes to Oceans Eleven, I'm far more interested in the blackjack and poker tables, then the background heist. And give me credit, were I planning such, I'd be smart enough to send someone else to scout it out and let the blame fall upon them.

Consider, if you will, that this is the first 'black tie' event as it were to be held in my home sweet home barony in years. A time to see and be seen, and hobnob with the elites. With so little information available, I had wondered - and I may not be the only one - if instead of a guest list, one might expect to have their ear length checked at the door for entrance."

"Nonsense, we have at least one satyr invited not of the hold, and his ears are rather lack luster" A smirk "I don't need your presence to prove open mindndess"

"Not to anyone else, perhaps, but to me, it would mean a great deal." He dabs at his eyes as though to wipe away a tear, with a rather pretty handkerchief, embroidered with ND and a starburst and snowflake pattern.

"Not helping your case" She eyes the kerchief "Is this then, an OFFICIAL request from a citizen who I am supposed to look out for?"

He follows her glance and looks at the kerchief in his hand as though only just now seeing it, and carefully folds it up and sets on the table neatly. "An official request, from the bottom of my heart." Hand over his breast, and then his fingers twitch and he holds a card from 'nowhere', the Queen of Hearts.

"Well, You are being generous. I'll put you on the list , do you need a nice suit?" She asks

"I think I can scrounge something up." Choosing the higher road, and not being offended at the idea that he, Black Jack, Ace! Would lack at all in.... suits.

"It won't have a knife hole in the back, will it?" She smiles to put humor to the question

"Are you planning to put one there? Egads, give me some credit. I wouldn't stab a suit that I was planning to wear. How incredibly... gauche. That would be more the Hob's style."

"Your're right. I'm so sorry" She says "I confess, the more charming you are, the more I want to pick on you. Odd mm? "

"Pick on me all you like, as long as you pick me." He says, unrepentantly. "I shall await my invitation then."

She takes the offered donation "And thank you for this."

"My pleasure. I look forward to the event." He stands, straightening his jacket and sliding a hand into his pocket.

...to produce his car keys. "I parked just down past the main drive."

"I see. I'll escort you back" She gathers the kerchief and lighter and joins him "Ace, Not that i mind flirting, but I'm sure a fellow like yourself has no trouble finding a lass. If though you're really looking, and if you don't mean to be cruel, I could see if I could help introduce you to some women for that purpose as well?"