#baronyofthesilverwolf

Art is looking for Gwen. He's checked the kitchen, the garden, and is headed over to the kennels now.

He finds her at the kennels, dutifully seeing to each dog

Dusk has been coming along nicely... even if she has a habit of attacking Ivan's tail when he's "not paying attention". Sigh

Art is wearing one of Katrina's art smocks - clearly hers, based on the riot of color splatters across it. There is, however, also a wide front pocket, in which Fornax is comfortably nestled. He watches Gwen for a moment as she gives the dogs pats, not wanting to interrupt. Finally, he clears his throat awkwardly.

"Not talking to you" She says recognizing the throat clearing

"I'll wait." He goes down on one knee, and lowers his head.

She finishes the dogs, turns to see him... a blink "Art, are you kneeling?"

He stands (eliciting a peep from Fornax), and bows to her, a full bow from the waist. "Dame Gladiola, please accept my apology."

"You unmitigated jackass ... you ghost me after I show up to support you as a friend? I get it. You don't like me. Thanks for making that crystal clear, but I got to tell you something, making a fool of me does NOT make me disagree with the Daireann creedo of revenge. "

he BLINKS. "Making a fool out of you?! Gwen... I was humiliated. I did not want anyone to see me as.... as THAT. I didn't ghost you... I don't think?" Perhaps not clear on the usage of the slang. "I ran."

"I know you do not respect me. I haven't earned it. But... " His cheeks color all the way up to the ears. "When I started the job, they did not elucidate the extent of the duties, and once I had started, I did not feel it was proper to quit. Despite how demeaning the work. But that doesn't mean I wanted anyone to see me as that."

"I DID respect you," She towers, "Don't talk to me about respect when I'm doing all the work in being a friend. If you didn't want me to come by because the job embarrassed you you should SAY So, though I don't see why. You were in a cow suit. Big deal. You were rocking the sign work. THey gave you credit for being a lot better than the other guy. That's something to be proud of. Pardon me, but did I EVER call you 'farty arty'? Did I ever mock you or bully you? Check any lingering memories from your host too. Go on"

His shoulders curl inward.

"By the way, the answer is 'no'. I didn't. Ever."

"....no." He says, quietly.

"You're damned right" She glares "I get treated like something work around, to avoid, even when I'm not protecting or 'babysiting' you guys, I get treated like an obstacle. In my own home. I thought we were working past that on both sides, then I come to support you, not mock or tease, and you 'run' but you don't think about my feelings. See this rocky hide? It does ZERO to protect me from being treated like I'm just 'in the way'"

"I asked you not to go. I did not want anyone to see. It is not being supportive to view me in humiliation. Whether intentional or not,, it makes me feel... small. Degraded. To be cheered on during a disgrace? It does not make it less so, only more knowing that someone I know has seen me at my mortification."

"You said I didn't need to do that, I don't think you ever ASKED me not to go, and you sure didn't trust me enough to explain WHY. I thought it was like 'dont' trouble yourself' . Telepathy is not a cantrip and even if it were I don't have it. So worried about your own 'morfiication' which as far as I can tell is entirely internal on your part, that you didn't consider how others might feel? Art, I don't know what title you have coming but if it's one of leadership you need to learn a little empathy for others"

"I never asked to be put in a position of leadership. I do not seek it!"

"You may not get a choice so you need to up your game. But Are you sure? Because you pushed really hard to get changes here that suited you. Improve the library, you want access to these arts, and more. You're not deliberately selfish, I get that, but you do want things the way you want them and you tune other things and people out. You miss on some good things too. Honestly, you're so blind to other folks at times... Thistle is so patient with you I can't even..." She bites down "Nevermind about THAT blindspot of yours. " A breath "You offer me an apology, but you didn't understand really what you did wrong, and that it hurt me. You just went thorugh the motions so YOU wouldn't feel bad. Do you grasp WHY I'm angry? Or was the apology just because you might have been 'rude'?"

"I feel that when you tell me not to be embarrassed by something that I find humiliating, you are ignoring my feelings. It makes me feel... even more lesser, as though I should be ashamed for my own thoughts. I see that your words come from a place of desiring to help, but sometimes, I also need the freedom to work through things on my own."

"I apologized because I saw that you were hurt by my actions. That was not my intent. That I am sorry for."

"I'm not telling you not to be embarrassed, I am telling you that expecting me to come in and ridicule me is a slap in the face. If that's what you think I'd do, you don't know me at all! Now do I disagree that you should be ashmed or embarrassed by working hard? I do have my own opinions. I don't see it as mortifying, you do. But when I say it's internal, I mean don't PROJECT. How you feel, fine. Acting like I was going to be a bitch to you about it? That's unjust... and THAT's what you should be apologing for. Bailing and making me look like a fool, but mostly for assuming the worst about me. Do you get that? Because other wise this is going to happen again"

She sighs and adds "Art, I was so damn proud of you stepping up like that. I know your home life sucks. The idea you were trying to better things for yourself and those you care about. THat's not funny, it's ballsy"

He looks taken aback. "I did not expect you to ridicule me. I... Gwen, I respect you. I did not want you to see me in a position of mockery. It made me feel... embarrassed. I am not an impressive Sidhe lord. Perhaps I once was, but now I am just... a young teenage mortal, too. I do not know if I will regain any of my gravitas on Saining. I may not. But I'd like people I look up to... to not see me as a dancing cow."

It clearly cost him a lot to admit that, his cheeks are red and he is averting his gaze.

A frown, then "Sometimes I need to remember sidhe also have a mortal side, even if it's.. different. And, I'm glad to hear you don't think so little of me that I would torment you." SHe looks over "You're actually more impressiive than you realize I think. When your passions ignite, you can be very inspiring. "

A breath "Apology accepted. I.. might have set a prank in motion. You'll want to clean your telescope eyepice. It's got boot black around it. Would have given you a fake black eye or ring about it anyway"

"Ohhhhh." He winces. "Will you excuse me? I have to go apologize to Bluebell."

"Uh oh" She says "SHe's.. borrowing it?"

"I noticed the blacking earlier, and... I did not accuse her, but brought it up in conversation." He rubs at the back of his neck. "Somehow, she got me talking about things... she has a way of it, and... that helped me understand I owed you an apology. But still, I should not have expected that she was the culprit."

"Pooka have a rep, but yeah, apologize. I'll apologize to her too." A pause "Art, if you want I'll stay away from your work place. I don't think you have anything to be embarrassed about, but you're right in that you feel how you feel and maybe I was a bit insensitive to the clues you tried to send. Sorry." A humph then "Also, it's gonna be worriesome for you,with Thistle gone for the week"

He nods! "She sent me a couple pictures of her plans for a nursery design. There's this balloon idea she was working on..."

He shows her the images on his phone. Art's gotten quite deft at using the device.

She looks and grins "Oh that's nice. You know all those colors and patterns will probably be good for the child. Uhm visual focus and brain development stuff?"

"She helped me with star patterns on the ceiling for my room. Well, our room. I share with Gawain."

"Yeah. I'm sorry you don't have your own room. Everyone needs some privacy"

"Well, the house is small, but it is still... home? It was easier once Morgan went to graduate school - there are memories from before. When Gawain was born - he was not an expected addition, you see... for a time, she slept in the room with Mother while Father had a couch next to a crib." Art shares some insights from growing up in a crowded home with little money. At least, from his host memories.

She listens "For me, it was cramped but my own room. Walls were thin, when dad got drunk and beat mom I... I heard everything"

"....oh." He says, awkwardly. "There is argument in my house, but... only words, and not with any true rancor behind it. I am sorry that you had such an experience."

"Sorry, didn't mean to 'one down' you in a misery contest." She says "I'm happy now overall. What about those new apartments that Thistle moved to?"

"Oh, she's lived there for ages. Some Satyr developer bought them out and is renovating them. She's a bit worried that they want to upgrade the amenities then price the current residents out, though."

"From what i hear the baroness brokered a deal so kithain and kinain don't get screwed by it"

"Maybe your family could move there?"

"Oh, no... our place is small, but, it's ours. Dad is very proud of that. Mom likes that we have a yard, even if it's just a tiny bit of weeds - well, she calls it 'Native planting', but I think that just means that wildflowers grew and she liked it too much to mow over it."

"Plus, someday, Lance may actually move out." He says, without much actual hope.

"Well, I guess I can see that" She ponders "How old is Lance again?"

"I believe..." He thinks, trying to remember, then nods! "He reached drinking age of majority earlier this year. It did not help his disposition."

"Times are hard all over" She frowns "Still.. mmph would make things easier on you if he went off somewhere"

"Mother says that family is important, as they're the only ones you can always rely on. Still, I feel like Lance is taking advantage of that."

"Does he have any useful skills?"

"Not that he shares with me." Art admits. "He just watches TeeVee all day."