#baronyofthesilverwolf

Rochallor holds up a milk carton "HELLO, Have you seen this nocker?" On the side of it is a colorful if not terribly good drawing of Thistle "Neither have we! She was last scene in a cabage patch exlosion, Lettuce pray she and all family members are safe"

"Rochallor, she's FINE" Dee says "You're just trying to get attention "

"Joe says you're Dame Not appearing in this film" The boy says huffy and pets Dusk

"Joe's asking for a hoof in the tail" Lavender mutters, then looks up as there's a chime

A Never baps against the brightly-colored portrait!

Clearly, one of the other colors is in possession of the braincell at the moment.

"The last never!" Joe says "I thought you guys had gone ickystink. with thistle gone, you weren't near so many"

Chime! The teal light preens.

"They have been scarce" A nod from Dee

Joe waves the box about a bit so the never can play too

Bip bip bap!

"See, she knows we're thistle less, we have a thistle gap, DeeDee" The pooka fusses

Dame Dlorean sighs "I'm not going to charge over and kidnap her back"

Marigold was on a call in the next room over, and after she hangs up, heads over to see the others. She has a troubled expression. "Rochallor, be sure to drink that milk, yes? It will make you grow big and strong. Lavender, have you seen the Baroness?"

"Yes, Marigold. She's on a ride, but wasn't going far. Want me to retrieve her early? Well, ASK her to return?"

"Oh, bother. I'm not sure. I think someone needs to go into the hospital in Watertown." She sighs. "I'm not getting any information on Thistle's family, and that doesn't make sense, because Marla - that's one of the night nurses in obstetrics - and I have been friends for ages."

"How banal is that place?" D'Lorean inquires

"It's a rather odd situation, all told. The main hospital network is Lewis County, but they closed their maternity wards last year over a huge row over nurses refusing to get vaccinated. Now, Marla, bless her soul, wasn't one of them, but she was front and center for the fallout. She knew Helen and Jorge from back in..." Marigold sees that look on Lavender's face and sighs, "ANYWAY, long story short, they moved all of their gyno and obstetrics over to Samaritan Medical Center in Watertown, which is not-for-profit, but that doesn't mean bad, mind you, they still have awards for excellence in care. But that means unless you're driving all the way out to Black River, you..."

She pauses, and sums up, "They're not as banal as some of the fancier places, but it's still a hospital. I can't even get through to anyone who can talk to me. Normally I'm good at navigating this sort of thing, but... it's odd, it is."

"Then I should go, the Baroness is Arcadian. They don't last as long" Lavender says

"I should go instead I mean"

"You need to take backup. Julius, or Bluebell. Oh, it might be rough on her, but... she's better able to pull light out of dark places than anywhere I've seen. You'll need a cover story, because I don't think they'll let you in otherwise. I can't even get anyone to give me the time of day over the phone. Strangest thing, normally I'd at least get the room number so I could send flowers."

"Coverstory.. mmm cousin to her step mom?"

"Except I don't think either of them will recognize you, which blows the story wide open." She considers, then - "Perhaps you're in the family way and want to view the facilities before choosing them as your maternity choice?"

D'Lorean touches her belly, "You mean ... I'm carrying the child of one of my coworkers, but I dare not tell him, because he's betrothed to another... oh the scandal, the shame"

"Best not brag THAT story about too loudly, or one will remember that your primary coworker is Julius. Now, -I- know full well he's a loyal gentlepan, but Bluebell ought not overhear, she does have a smidge of a jealous streak."

"Never saw a green eyed bunny before" She mutters "Okay okay"

"Who will you take with you? I'm not sending you into that place alone."

Marigold's opinions on hospitals are well known.

"I'll see if Bluebell wants to come with " D'Lorean assures her

"You do that. I'll send you with muffins for the nurses. Smooth the way over. Never met a nurse who wasn't overworked and underfed."

"Rochy, dear, would you like to help me make some fresh carrot muffins?"

"I'll have to make sure they're not poisoned" Rochalor says

"Oh yes, especially the cream cheese frosting." Marigold says brightly, covering up any worry in front of the childling.

ANd rochalor rushes in

off to the kitchen way ahead of her saying "Poison check!"

Lavender looks at Marigold "Okay, kids are weird and I'm not sure I want this pregnancy anymore"

"Hush, don't you let Bluebell hear you with that talk. You know she has the fever something awful."

"Oh" Lavender blushes "Shit. Sorry. I didn't... darn it. She'd be SUCH a good mom"

Marigold pats Lavender on the arm warmly. "She will be, someday. When da'an decides the time is right, or when the right child comes to her. It took me until my greybeard years to gain a daughter, but I wouldn't trade my Gwennie for all the babes in the world."

"You are the only person allowed to call her Gwennie, you know that? I STARTED to once, and she gave me SUCH a look. You do it, she lights up" A smile

A smile just as bright. "I think she was looking for something with Maddern, else you'll find Bluebell around."

"Oh bluebell, let me go find her" She says "marigold, you want us to call in or text after an hour?"

"Please keep me updated. I worry about Trina's poor mo- sorry, poor step mother. She's been through a lot, she has."

"Both of them" A nod

"Both?" Curiously.

"Her step mom and Trina herself. The loss of a sealskin is... well"

"Oh, Trina. Sorry, I thougth you meant Diane, her mother. That is one strong lady, so I wasn't sure what you meant or if I'd missed something." She nods, agreeing.

"Be right back, going to look for Bluebell"

"Oh, yes, I have muffins to bake." Waving her on.

...

In the living quarters, Bluebell is overheard talking to Maddern as Lavender approaches.

"Yes, I do understand, that you do not do it a'purpose. However, if you were to happen to wander through Tiffany's, and there was a, say, Tiara, or bracelet, sized 5", mind you, that you happened to bring home, I am just saying I would gladly return it for you. Eventually."