#baronyofthesilverwolf

David’s carved marble head tilts slightly, his dark eyes fixed on Gwennie. “An Eshu, a wanderer of roads and lore?” he muses, the words measured. “Such a one might bring much to this place.”

Eridanus stands silent and unmoving, the faint blue glow of his eyes steady. At the mention of stories though, his mighty head shifts, turning with deliberate precision towards Gwennie. “Such stories... would be welcome.”

"Yes, an Eshu. He was one of my first friends here in my early year. I'll see what I can do" She will write Mr. T or if she can find a faster way to contact him will do so "But I'm sure he'd love to meet you both. I doubt he's ever met anyone like Eridanus before but he's old and traveled and might surprise me yet." She then adds "Are you two very bored here?"

“There is peace in the stillness,” David pauses, as if weighing his words. “But it is not the same as company.”

“I hope Thistle will visit soon. I’ve been working on the stones here in a way she may find pleasing, for Eridanus’s benefit.” His gaze shifting toward the silent sentinel.

"Oh then I'm really glad I brought more stones" She says at this news "Are you placing them in patterns? or smoothing them?" She makes a mental note to shop for some more semi precious stones and bring a handful to use. GOodness she SO wants to help these guys it goes beyond her usual niceness and a kind of pull.

“Do the changelings of today still follow the tradition of Yule? I am aware of it's significance, but I wonder if it still holds meaning in the present age.”

"Well, some traditions are more common than others in their keeping. An Evergreen, to symbolize endurance, is often brought in.. gifts are exchanged, to show plenty in a time of want and also for friendship's warmth. As for us, it also happens on the Winter Solstice, the longest night of the year, the Unseelie often feel quite contemplative and it can be even more spiritual. Now some celebrate mortal Christmas on one day and Yule on another as fits. This means Kithain, being dual natured can get two holidays in the same week. That's not counting other holidays. It's all very pleasant overall. Singing, much food... and legends walk during yule. The Renegade of Red And White who first stole away plenty from the unworthy and turned it to gifts for childlings is now known as Santa Claus but he rides still, this mix of Saint and Odin shadow. Others were near forgotten but are gaining memory again... the Krampus, the Yule Cat... a certain witch I shall not name. More modern dreams, Rudolph's nose shines brighter than the eye of balor and is far kinder. Frosty comes about to give rides down hills. And of course, Mrs. Klaus holds her Hearth with the surity of a queen. "

Eridanus's eyes gleam.

David listens to all of this, though with an air of slight bafflement at much of the concepts.

Then, he produces a smooth, dark stone. It is a deep shade of onyx, with veins of silver running through it like veins of moonlight - and shimmers faintly in the dim light of the cavern.

“I found this in the depths of the earth, where light rarely reaches. A fragment of ancient stone, polished by water and tempered by time, but still holding strength."

"I thought it might please you,” David says, offering it. “A gift, in the spirit of Yule. A token to carry with you, as changelings often do, - should you desire.”

She takes the stone her eyes wide, and her gratitude more overt "David, this is lovely." SHe kens it curiously as she holds it

The stone holds only a faint magical essence, enough to be used as dross, though doing so would dim its inner glow.

Still, it is beautiful, and Gwennie feels it is more than just a gift—it is a token of David's respect and regard.

But is it a token of love or attraction? She knows she is being silly, but it is often hard to watch others in the hold walk about hand in hand with loved ones. Julius and Bluebell , Art and Thistle, why even the Lord and Ladyship have something that she envies at times. Then she chastises herself Enough, Gwen. He respects you and thinks highly of you and you will not turn this wonderful gift into something to whine about. If you're not that to him you will thank him for the gift of friendship and not sulk.

"I thank you very much" she tells him "I may have it placed so I can wear it in fact."

Gwennie seeks deeper into her Boggan insight. She doesn’t know much about Inanimae, but something about David’s quiet, thoughtful nature makes her wonder. Perhaps Inanimae don’t experience love and romance the same way changelings and humans do. Their existence is so different, their priorities and desires so far removed from what she’s familiar with. She can’t quite place it, but she feels that such concepts might not come as naturally to them.

Though, she does feel that it is not impossible that such might be learned?

Even as she feels a shifting in her core, a magical tingle... and the ground starts to grow further away.

With the shift comes embarrassment , has she been revealing her feelings OBVIOUSLY ? Like some mewling gushing babbling brook rather than a stately and reserved stream? It is well her complexion leans towards copper skinned, for the blush is easier to hide. What am I even hoping for when I have more important things to do. Duties, obligations. By the Thunderbird I'm acting like some silly girl hoping the COOL guy will offer his jacket for me to wear

Though as she returns to Troll form, she sees David rise to his feet. It is hard to tell his emotions, with his husk of cool marble, but his motion is clear as he extends both crafted hands to clasp her own for a moment. "Dame Gladiola. You have returned to yourself. This is good." A fleeting sense, the last hint of her boggan insight, that there is joy in seeing her again truly, just as Art reacted to Thistle.

At that, her blush becomes a smile

"Yes... I feel a bit mortified at being so verbose. I hope I didn't bore either of you with my rambling?"

Eridanus remains nearly motionless, his eyes watching, though his posture is subtle in its shift. "I listen," he says, his voice calm and succinct. "Your words are... interesting."

David nods, offering a reassuring gesture “Your visit is welcome, Gladiola. It is always enjoyed.”

In someways she feels a bit blind now, more like color blindness than true lack of all sight, but still it's noticed. But it is more than compensated for by that sense of resolve and strength combined. She can hold better now against what threats come to her, or those she cares for . As a troll, she will not be so easily pushed aside, "Thank you, David. And Eridanus, I definitely plan to visit you more often and I will definitely inform Thistle and Art they should visit . I think they planned to anyway"

Though Gladiola is no longer a boggan, she realizes that her time as one has lent a remaining effect - she now notices in nearly invisible shifts of David's form, small adjustments in posture and in the shift of his weight of his husk, emotes that were invisible otherwise. She can better read the statue's meaning and feelings.

A nod. She may prefer being a troll, it is what she was meant to be, but she wouldn't trade her time as a boggan for anything. Her mother and she, well, that was just fun working with her , being with her, and understanding her. Still tempted to trank her ass and get her into a hospital

"Pardon my rudeness, but... do either of you enjoy reading?"

"You see, I do have some books I can loan you too so when you.. oh" Realization "Fornax's book reader. Eridanus, you won't have to fiddle with the pages if you use that! "

She explains how it works and what it does as they talk just a bit longer

Though David insists that he does not mind spending time with, and reading to, Eridanus, perhaps a bit selfishly Gwen realizes that she would see more of David if he didn't need to... and as the year is still in the unseelie time, a little bit of selfishness is well and good. Though the inspiration to use Fornax's book reader is truly caring! Gwen will need to tell Thistle and get her to set it up.

But for now, they finish their visit with pleasant conversation, between a stone spirit, a living stone, and a living being with stone skin.

(Scene!)

---

In Thistle's workshop, Citrine has PASSED OUT in a sugar coma... returned back to her tiny original form. Though, Thistle DID get a good glimpse into the enlarged workings of the clockwork she originally installed after returning from her walk with Art. Fascinating, it was. Even if the Sidhe did keep giggling and slapping her hands because it tickled.

Sometime later, a familiar sight, a troll , returns to the hold. Her long legged stride having brought her back to herself. She carries a basket that once held sandwiches, and jars of soil and a few rock samples. Now she moves along grateful for height once more.

BUT that also gave her ideas for improvements...

Gladiola greets Ivan, who eyes her , sniffs her, barks at her, as if to chastise her for changing like that without warning a guy.

"What are you, the transformation police?" She pets him. It occurs to her that Ivan and the other dogs probably did NOT appreciate the changes. Well, Maybe muppet was okay with it, but he's remarkably easy going for a terrier, but Ivan seems a touch offended.

Nothing a lot of pets, assurances, and a treat won't forgive htough, she says to Ivan "Seen Thistle around? I'm looking for her"

Ivan helps her look

Thistle's studio is lit up!

And Gwen goes up there and knocks "Gladiola here, back to troll town. You a nocker again?"

Citrine has been neatly deposited in a padded ceramic "nest".

Muppet barks!

"Hey Eggsy, yeah, yeah, I'm me. Come in, watchyer elbows."

She enters cautiously and does indeed, "You got a minute? I went to visit David and Eridanus"

"Huh? Yeah? How's the big guy?" Thistle is perched on a chair by the main work table, sketchbook balanced on one knee.

"They're both big" She replies "They were happy to see me. Oh, Eridanus is really hoping to see you again for certain. I was in boggan mode for much of the conversation and... well, he's not just curious about you and Art, but really wants to connect with those who touched his existence. Particularly you, I think. David was charming, gave me a gift" She is tempted to say more about that ,but suddenly talking about her feelings for David, her hopes, feels too .. open. " really lovely stone" She shows that, "And during all this rambling, it occured to me that they might want want ways to pass the time down there, Eridanus particularly. Since he is too big to flip pages easily, what do you think about letting him use Fornax's reader, or something like it? THat and a few books?"

Indeed, Thistle has a fine new sketchbook as a gift from Julius for Yule.

… as does art, Gwen, blossom,… one might suspect almost that he got a bulk deal, but they are very nice.

She blinks. "He does? Huh. I wouldn't think..." She reaches for the stone, turning it over to examine it, if allowed.

"I wouldn't deprive Fornax, but I could make another reader."

She allows, but clearly is cautious about it being tinkered with too much "I think maybe a wristband or something for it " THen she goes on "And yeah, I think he wants the connection more than the books though. I mean... as a boggan it seemed a lot clearer. " A beat "So how was Sidhedom?"

Fornax CAN read now, his vision clear, though he does still love being read to.

"Oh, I could set this as a cabochon... maybe even swappable as a pendant or on a cuff? You're big enough, it'd be fine on the wrist..."

She colors - not that her cheeks aren't ever NOT pink, but they can still redden. "Sidhedom was... different, that's for sure. Big ego boost with the ears."