#baronyofthesilverwolf

The library sits in its usual hush, warm with the scent of paper, leather, and old polished wood. Afternoon light filters dimly through the high windows, though the shadows have begun to stretch long between the shelves.

At one of the reading tables, Art is already there, in his customary comfortable disarray. Several books lie open around him in loose, precarious constellations, with scraps of notes tucked between pages in a system that likely makes sense only to him. A candle beside his elbow has long since burned itself out, leaving only a curl of cold smoke and hardened wax.

The Squire squints down at the page before him, leaning closer with complete concentration, evidently more willing to challenge his eyesight than interrupt his reading to relight the dang thing. He turns a page absently, unaware that the fading light has reduced half the text to shadow.

Nadeen enters the library without much hesitation, with her 'guest' delayed, time matters. She wanted to talk to Thistle and Artie anyway, but after a discussion with Madern where he had the nerve to remind her that he was no longer in service to the holding and might expect to get PAID for a quest, well... she's in a bit of a mood. What was she researching again? Oh yes, the valley etc.

Art looks up, blinking owlishly as the opened door brings in fresh light. "Oh, hi - I mean, good afternoon, My Lady."

"Squire, you are going to go blind," She observes, taking out a new candle or even lantern and relighting it, "You have a love of reading, that's good but you'll miss your vision all the more if it fades on you. That said, you are one of the folks I wanted to see."

"Huh? Oh, that. I could just turn on the overheads, but the candle light is so much more thematic..." A sheepish smile. "How may I be of service?"

She nods approvingly at his manners even if she finds his love of candle light for theme... well actually, that's okay too. They are sidhe, thematic is important, "Well, Arthur, I have a quest for Thistle, yourself, and one other. You imaginauts are going to go into the dreaming in search of something very specific. It could be dangerous but will require clue following, travel and more. I trust you schedule is not overly full at this time?"

He straightens up, his eyes glowing at the mention of a quest. "School is nearly out for summer, we do have finals coming up. but that's just mortal schooling. What they expect us to know is either comically easy, or completely irrelevant to modern fae life. So I would dare say I am very available."

She perks at that, then says "Well, before the quest even begins we must find the door or entry way you'll need to use. Dangerous As I said, but we have some types. First, and feel to take notes from my own, let me tell you of ... Amberheart." She hands over the notes she took to him even as she says "This all involves our current guest. I know political games can be your least favorite part of being a shining host, Squire, but it is a game we are forced to play even if we refuse to play it, and SIlverwolf's good name is being set up to take a hit. Instead we hope to turn this into a glorification as we shift the definition of 'winning' a bit." The notes in front of him are in elegant writing, the Baroness always had nice penmanship. The metaphorical 'map' layed out, the Amberheart's rarity stressed, and so on.

Art listens intently through the explanation, eyes flicking over the notes as he follows along. At the end, he gives a small, puzzled sigh.

“All this for a fruit?” he asks, "Not even a tome, or a scroll, or at least a pamphlet of forgotten lore?”

“…I suppose it's mostly important because influential people have decided it ought to be. Like one of those books that sits atop a best seller list for months despite having nothing especially worthwhile to say.”

"But perhaps I shall be surprised!" He grins.

She nods "Arthur, while it may not seem important to you, though it is, for it affects the status of the hold you call home, remember, the cullinary world is very important to many even without such politics. Boggans for example, are rightly proud of the magical chemistry they work in their baking and more. Why, this could be to Marigold what a new source of Rocketfuel would be to our innovative Thistle. And," She takes a moment to sit next to the younger wilder, "Has it not occured to you that in finding one rare item meant for consumption, you might also stumble onto something meant to travel the stars? In the mortal world, plants make oxygen, and mortals think nothing of that miracle, more is the pity. In a movie, a potato proved useful on Mars... Now should Thistle and you ever make it to the Moon's orbit or the like... you're going to need food to eat, stuff that can regrow. And you might need a chimerical air supply depending on if the dreaming in that area is a vacuum or aether or whatever. And, you might need fuel of rare type, and chimerical plants have juices and more. I am not promising such a pleasant surprise, but I am hoping to get you to see that where one discovery is made, a dozen more may result from it. You know this better than I, I think."

She has known about the duo's desire for a spaceship for a long time, and never had the heart to tell them that the way via the moon , a path to Arcadia, cannot be traveled by those tainted by the mortal realm as they've all been, at least, that is the theory. Patterns change and perhaps Art and Thistle WILL prove the naysayers wrong? Regardless, the two read the books about such, compare notes, and whisper like thieves about the subject by night. One doesn't need to have a boggan on staff to know this dream of the two.

A grin. “My lady, I never said I wouldn’t go. I mean, Thistle is going, right? Of course I’m going.”

He glances back down at the notes, curiosity already overtaking skepticism.

“And admittedly… a mysterious Dreaming fruit hidden beyond a seasonal threshold does sound considerably more interesting than just produce.”

Nadeen concedes but feels she should give a warning based on her own past experience, "It's true, you never said you weren't but you did seem a touch dismissive of something. That's a danger to our Kith, Arthur and I'd be remiss as one of your mentors not to warn you of it. We Sidhe are ...amazing, glorious, spectacular, but we are also supposed to judge and rule over peoples who have very different tastes and interests. Some people are so tied to their interests that to dismiss what they are interested in feels to them like you are dismissing them too. This does not mean you should feign interest all the time when you have none, but try to look from various points of view or at least imagine the same scenario with one of YOUR Interests in its place and, should you ever rule, you'll be a better ruler. I owe some credit to that lesson to the trolls of Rivervale who helped raise me and I was far more selfish than you so perhaps this little bit of advice is not needed at all. In which case I thank you for indulging me.

Art’s smile fades to something more thoughtful as he listens,

“I… understand,” he says after a moment. “I don’t mean to sound dismissive of people. Sometimes I just genuinely forget that not everyone’s mind immediately wanders toward lost tomes or ancient star charts.”

“I suppose if someone dismissed one of those things as pointless, I’d probably feel rather wounded by it. So… point taken, my lady. And appreciated.”

"You're welcome, As I said, I was at one time, QUITE Selfish. And your love of star charts and tomes is part of who you are," She ponders "This Rathe, for want of a better term, lacks proper silver and it IS dangerous, which is why I thought Thistle who is working on new ways to travel would be ideal. I DO think that the study of that alone might be of interest to you both. Like imagine being able to Launch into the Dreaming from not just trod entries, but other locations too? While the goal may not be your cup of tea, the JOURNEY sounds right up your alley, if you will forgive base metaphors. Am I right in that?"

He grins. "It sounds a sight better than studying tedious mortal governmental failings for a class that will stead me no future prospects other than a letter grade." He is sure to add, "Though, I do promise to ensure adequate review of the material before the testing period, as I understand that my ranking, even amongst mortals, may well reflect back upon my lieges as well."

A courtly bow.

She returns the bow with a lighter incline of her head and a smile, "You've grown more confident, Squire. It suits you, and yes, it does reflect on us. You can trust us to savor your victories . Now, I suppose either I, or we, should seek Thistle out."

Art looks out the window, and says "She'll be at her workshop, this time of day, unless something pulled her away. Did you want me to come with you, or do some research here? I'm not sure how much I can find out in such a short time limit, if anything." He says, worriedly.

"It is a bit of a rush. Why don't come with me though? It seems to me you and Thistle are often each other's best motivators."

"or even muses."

He nods and carefully spends just a minute to sweep his mess into a few tidy piles and ensure that the candles are snuffed. Then, follows.

The music can be heard outside the studio - is that the Beastie Boys?

They make their way to the workshop. Nadeen laments ever truly keeping the exterior quite ... stately. It is as if Thistle's experiments with Kiln and clay have escaped here and there beyond merely the inside. Grout is not what one would call it, but now and then you can see sparkling material in the lines outside the shop. Nevers roost there like chromatic gargoyles, of course, when they're not in flight chasing random motes almost as colorful as they.

Still, it's worth it. Though her eye brow lifts to hear the Beastie Boys "I suppose she considers that classical music."

"Oldies."

"NO! SLEEP! til BROOKLYN!"

"Some days I fear I'm the only one in the hold besides Bluebell that appreciates Swan Lake," She knocks on the door, trying to time it in between beats so it might be heard.

"Citrine," SHe directs "Inform Thistle she has a guest." Nadeen does this sometime, orders Chimera that may not listen. It's part of sidhe nature. At one time, the Shining HOst could order mountains to move and they obliged. Surely a Never complying isn't asking too much?

Art pauses to trace a pattern of spray paint splatter that catches his eye where a bit of overspray hit the edge of one wall. It almost looks like a constellation.

Citrine... hmm.

Blows a raspberry at Nadeen!

"Dictum's an option" she mutters darkly.

Thistle is absolutely singing along - thankfully, the speakers are louder than her.

The other nevers, who often follow her lead like a mama duck... or more like the naughtiest goat in the herd, all start raspberrying in a chorus loud enough to be heard even over Beastie Boys.

A discordant note!

A moment, and the music pauses.

pbbbT!
PBBBT!

"Why are you idjits starting a fart chorus outside my shop?"

"A growing option" She ponders a bunk but then, well it did get the attention of Thistle so in a WAY they complied, "Thistle, It is Baroness Nadeen and Squire Arthur."

"Come in, s'fine. Don't touch!"

"Don't touch what?" Asks Art, fingers already at the ready.

They enter in, at least Nadeen does, and she looks about to see what her Head Innovator, or was she Chief Idealist? Blast she gets them muddled at times... is up to.

Thistle scoots out from under a.... chariot? Thing? Why does it have rockets?

Art follows a step behind, and out of direct view of Nadeen, he spots Thistle and gives her a beaming smile that is for her alone.

"Interesting," She observes, "Do you have a moment to pause or do you need to keep working while I tell you of your new quest, Thistle?"

She pulls her goggles up to rest on the top of her head. "....New quest? The furk?"