#baronyofthesilverwolf

The Baroness Nadeen is not normally the one who neglects eating. However, between prepping for a togail on the diplomatic side, coordinating Stirge defense, and ruling and hearing out common complaints, it so happens the young woman seems to have forgotten to eat.

It may not help that when she passes the hallway to the kitchen, the scents that come out are... sour, and unappealing. Marigold looks almost witchy as she stirs a large pot, with a handkerchief across her face.

"ugh" Slips out. normally she would never say something so rude even if that's the goal, but she's not herself when she forgets to eat, and nary a snickers in sight "Do you need a fan?"

Marigold looks up, and mercifully puts a lid on the pot. Her voice slightly muffled, "My apologies, Lady Nadeen. There's the rangehood, but I had it disconnected with all the nevers that were about. Just couldn't stand the thought of one of them getting sucked in, annoying as the flibbertigibbets are."

She looks about to see if there are any Nevers about now "I think the nevers might be avoiding the smell currently. Or with Thistle away are less drawn"

"Beg pardon. I have been trying some fermentation... not sure it's coming out as it should. It's been quite a few years since I've had a challenge like this one." She looks half annoyed, half intrigued.

"You see, anyone can simply leave food out to rot. It takes a deft hand to create spoiled food, yet without the risk of dangerous bacteria..."

"Sluagh might be immune, at that." She ponders, "But I won't take the chance that someone claimed poisoning, no ma'am!"

Nadeen covers her face, then moves in and looks "Similar to some Korean dishes." She names a few

"Is that so? Guess I'll need to research into a new cuisine or two." Now Marigold DOES look enthused.

" This is one area I MIGHT be able to help you" A disgusted look "I am no Hearth, not by half, but everyone helped in the kitchen at Rivervale. And Hearth Kerri knew of my dislike for a sluagh boy nearby. WELL... you can guess what she did to try to make me appreciate a culture not my own? I learned how to make some partiuclarly odor filled dishes. Of course, it didn't make me more open minded about Sluagh, it just made me dislike Korean dishes. "

"You'd show me these? I didn't know you cooked! Well, THIS needs to simmer down, it will be at least an hour before I know if it's worth keeping... in the meantime..." She gets a positively impish expression.

"What say you and I order some pizza pies?"

"I don't really cook, the line to cook was huge. I... oh god yes please" At the pizza pie "And I will tell you what I learned, which isnt much compared t osome but should give you a foundation"

"Let's eat in the far parlor, mmm?" The boggan was willing to experiment, but clearly she'll welcome a while out of the noxious fumes too!

And Nadeen moves over to the far parlor when she can, and explains "First thing you must know, I am sure Koreans are fine people, but a segment of their society seems fascinated with pungency . It's that segment this boy cheerished" Dryly

"Oh, my. Might I assume we should skip the anchovies?" She has a phone handy and a paper menu!

"I will pay extra for NO anchovies" She says with utter seriousness

A bubbling laugh. "Cheese and pepperoni?" Or perhaps veggies? I don't often splurge on some things, but..." Her eyes twinkle. "Who's going to tell on me?"

A smile "Not I. Some veggies are fine if you like. really it's been so long since I've had pizza ordered I think I forgot what I like"

"Your food is so wonderful I've enjoyed each new adventure"

She places an order and curtseys, before she settles into a chair. "Hope you don't mind being informal a touch."

"I think I welcome it. " SHe says surprising herself "I feel frustrated with my lack of progress in the formal of late. I worry that my rule will be seen as the time more troubles came than were solved."

"Well..." Getting on her gossip tone, "I dread to sound like I speak ill of my lieges, but before you came here? Problems weren't solved! The were ignored, pushed aside, or just left to linger. Folk with issues? Just... left."

"Troubles and problems, they're a sign of energy, and life, if you ask me."

"Thank you, Marigold" She ponders "But impressions are important. And folks can forget the recent and focus on the now when it comes to problems. More than that, I see Gwen beating herself up for being less than perfect. I see Lavender frustrated with feeling she failed to get mortals to believe her, as if that's enough to erase chicanery. I see Briar and Blossom each feeling contained as Huntresses. Thistle well.. a whole nother area. But I have to look each in the eye and look utterly in control. I confess, I am not, but I dare not admit that to any of them. They need me to be the cold sun, stead , reliable."

"Can you not spare a bit o' warmth? Tis still the season, though Fall approaches soon enough."

"It is the steadiness, not the warmth, I fear I am slipping upon. " She admits

"Speaking of..." Marigold looks a little hesitant, but asks, "Has m'Lord thought further about poor Artie? The boy is surely wound up tighter than a tinker's top worrying about what doom may fall."

"Arthur ended up making a mistake, everyone does. Then he Doubled Down on it. It's all i can do to get him sained on time and even that may not be in my perview. Ailil minds, once made up, are very hard to budge as you know. His Fior will be another factor. The boy was doing SO well before that. If he'd messed up at anything but soothsay it might have gone smoother but the Baron, as you know, has seen the damage of da'an ill treated. He will not have that lesson unlearned"

"Still, anything that might soften the blow might go a long way. He's bound to be disappointed - not that I think he'd be jealous, he doesn't seem to have that in him, he'd cheer Thistle on every step without any begrudgment, but... he's bound to feel left behind."

The pizza, meanwhile, has arrived! It's no haute cuisine, but it is hot and cheese, and bready and a touch greasy, salty and gooey...

And all for them! It seems that the smell of the sluagh cooking experiments have driven the others out, even Briar for a time.

She savors the first bite "mm deliciously pedastrian" A wink, then she says "i hear your plea, Marigold. you are ever an advocate for those you feel in trouble. I'll talk to my lord. But this is a tender subject for him and I do not know how mcuh even I can sway him. "

"But yes, I had always imagined Arthur and thistle as somewhat joined at the hip"

"I have noticed." Of course she has, she has boggan radar. "But she also needs to make sure she makes her own name. He WILL be sained, someday or another, into a Sidhe Lord, and she can't let herself fall into his shadow."

"Sidhe shadows are fine to fall into. We provide comfort with our shadows" A bit of a mmph, then "But I see what ou mean. Her artistic work is lovely and not to be overlooked"

"She'll never learn to fly on her own." Marigold tuts.

"She's a nocker... she'll probably build wings out of ceramic shell leavings"

"Oh, I do hope so." Marigold chuckles. "They make me feel young again, and not just because I'm exercised more, chasing little pixies out of the kitchen."

"I'm glad. I'm fond of them myself. But without you I'd likely have ...well, " A frown "I may have to get used to childlings or young wilders in ways i didnot think of"

"Childlings... Childlings?!" Marigold looks astonished, then "Nadeen, do you mean to say, that you are... in the family way?"

"Oh, no..." A frown "I'm ... the countess is making noise that we must needs have an heir. "

"So likely some wilder or Childling of her choosing will be pushed upon us."

A almost predatory bite at the pizza

Marigold holds hands to her cheeks. "Oh, DEAR, I didn't mean - you haven't put on an ounce, I just thought maybe... oh, I've put a foot in it. An Heir? After all this time? Oh... well." She settles back, frowning. "Calanthe was the heir apparent. Clearly that is no longer a matter of record, though it did keep the wolves from the door, as it were."

"The day I would miss Calanthe? THIS must be what Bedlam feels like. I tell you now. I hoped Arthur would happen to be a Baron, maybe an Eiluned. who knows. And that he might have time to mature ...and I do like the fellow. Now I feel this pressure. " A glower "No one took me to inheirit their hold as heir. I loved Rivervale, but there was no chance of my ruling there ever. Indeed, three times it seemed I was stimied. And now I rule side by side beyond what I dreamed, and i find myself watching as some child or youngling is to be given a spot for no effort? I fear I will resent this heir"

"Well, no one says that the Heir needs to reside here, do they? After all, sending a promising young soul abroad to learn from other holders and lords is a time-honored tradition. If you must, name one to appease the high lady, done and done, then off they go, righty-o, out of sight, out of mind. Keeping them around, why, that's almost a morbid fascination, as though they must be on hand should you just keel over."

"I... don't know. A possiblity,but I wish to pick my own"

"Well then, consider that it IS a big decision, even if an appointment as heir-apparent is easily enough revoked. My advice, is let the Countess know you understand her request and are undertaking it with all due haste. Perhaps even hint that there is a already a plot afoot to choose... the Lady is Eilunid, after all, they can't resist a riddle any more than a cat can resist cream. While she chases after red herrings, you can relax and make your own choice.

Nadeen may wonder if SHE has been so easily handled by her own vassals as Marigold makes it sound. The Art of Rearing and Caring for Nobles