#baronyofthesilverwolf

"What's the sad little jinglehopper act? You're Citrine. You're special."

"Art, you interested in exploring an old steel mill?"

"Sure, what are we seeking? Materials, or reagents? Or perhaps some sort of chimera that lives in such environs?"

"You hear about the smog monster yet?"

A frown. "I did not have any visions as to such. However, Count Harner espouses patience and moderation in seeking of such, so I have tempered my testing into that area."

"But yes, it is much of what people are speaking of."

"My head has been very full with all of the learning that the Count has so courteously granted, on top of keeping up on my mundane schooling." He says, wryly.

"Well, then a good adventure should be good for you." A firm, sharp nod.

"We're gonna see if the smelter there might be able to contain setting said monster on fire."

"He had me memorizing the names, houses, and defining features of different counties and baronies in Apples. This way, if I have a vision that applies to nearby holdings, I'll know who it is about..."

He blinks. "Contain it? I thought perhaps you would find a way to harry it onward."

"And make it someone else's problem?"

A sheepish look. "Perhaps it might dispel into more manageable levels?"

"Yeah, that's an option, too - but right now, it's big and unwieldy."

"And you can't stab a cloud."

"But you can, maybe, burn up enough of the particulates or change'm through reactions to render it inert."

"The next county due southwest is the Finger Lakes region - I cannot imagine either Countess Falkenreach or Count Lyonwilde being pleased by such an intrusion. North would be into the next kingdom over and might spark a political Incident, and Mountainwilds are largely inhabited by Prodigals that may take even less kindly than other fae..." He murmurs in a thoughtful undertone...

Then back to Thistle, returning to the moment. "If you condense it, you might strengthen it's power even as you find a corporeal form to attack."

She squints and nods. "A risk."

"We got Balboa and Jaws for combat, and neither of them are half bad."

"It's a shame it didn't settle in over Catawampus territory. That's ruled by a Redcap Baron and his Sluagh consort. They might like such a thing. Then again, that might be to the detriment of the health, of their dreamers, even if it does inspire nightmare glamour of the sort that they may savor..." A hand to his forehead. "It gives me a headache, politics." A mild complaint.

"That little goblin's a (*&^%()_) honey badger in a fight."

"Comes with the ears, ain't it? Glad I'm not a fancypants."

A grin over to Thistle. "Balboa? Not... what was it.. Shamu?"

A glance at Thistle's outfit and a raised, elegant brow. "You have the fanciest pants of the entire Barony, perhaps County. Is that paint pattern intentional or incidental? It is striking in any case."

Snerk!

"Folks can have more than one nickname. Not sure if that's an assurance, or a threat."

A blush! "Uh."

"Have you thought at all of fashion design?"

"I.... hadn't?"

"Textiles are a whole new thing."

"I usually upcycle, anyways."

"It's unique, and striking. I think you would have interest if you decided to sell your creations." Admiring.

"Ah, but then it would be less unique! Why, you want a Thistle original? Summat purple and full of stars?"

"Well, not less unique if EVERY item is an original. And... would you? I've been informed that I lack proper courtly voile."

A sheepish grin. "But I do not mean to detract from your quest at hand..."

"Hunh." She takes him by the shoulders, physically turning him about for inspection.

"Challenge accepted."

"Oh!" He extends his arms, allowing her to check his measurements.

As she works, "How can I help with your Smog Monster? I'm afraid that my talents lie more in the theoretical than practical..."

She mumbles to herself, and finds a tape measure.

"Well, you do some magic things, right?"

"And you have a sword."

"A little sovereign, soothsay, and naming enough to read in any language." A brilliant smile at that, which dims a bit at the sword mention. "And I am less likely at this point to cut off my own legs, I suppose..."

"Naming? No shit!"

"Soothsay, can't you hex people? Or.. chimera?"

She waggles her fingers in a voodoo gesture.

"Well, I have yet to find a mentor who will teach me more, it's so protected even amongst the Nobility. But remember when I was able to read that Gaelic on the ship when we were dropped into Redfin territory? I must have Remembered it from Before."

"I can call luck, good or ill, to a degree. Count Harner had me test it on a little league game, and then swear never to affect any major league ball in his territory or I will be put in the Stocks." A small grin, but, "And I think he meant it."

"Sounds like he takes his baseball seriously. But - I mean, it ain't unethical to help us against a smog monster!"

"No, not at all. I do wish I was more practically useful, though, betimes."

"Who said you ain't useful?"