#baronyofthesilverwolf

It was Art's anyway 😉

Madern doesn't seem offended for some reason.

A bit of crossing out and scribbling and muttered maybe-cursing as she adjusts variables.

"This."

He looks over her corrections, and gives a low whistle, "Okay at least a third of that is over my head but it looks good. Art, check it out."

Art leans over and considers, "The math checks out, but I expected no less."

A grin. "It is all coming together!"

"Can you two mooks go to the Baroness? I can't be distracted when I'm enameling, anyways."

"Well, last time I talked to the Baroness she reminded me that if I got too greedy she'd charge me for parking my food truck here so I'm not sure I'm on her good side..." Madern blushes a bit, "She seems to like Art though."

"She seems to because she only scolds me in private." He says with a hangdog expression.

"oh, " Madern says "Well, at least she gives us what for in private instead of trying to shame us in public." A sigh "Okay. I can go with if you really need me, Art."

"I will go with you, certainly, I was just correcting an assumption." He grins. "THough, if she did not like me at least a bit, she would not expend such effort on my behalf."

A small frown.

Art peers at Thistle. "Hm?"

"I..." She pauses, and closes her mouth. Another small frown.

Art moves over and sets a hand on her arm. "What is it?"

"Well, you don't waste time tryin' to refine drek, you're right."

Madern blinks "huh?"

Art blinks.

Then he GRINS.

"So, I'm not Drek?"

"I... I didn't say that, exactly." Oh, but her spirals are glowing coral.

"I shall adopt it as the motto of my family line, "Not Quite Drek" He says, pressing a hand to his heart.

"You're a cloud-minded lollygagger, Art!"

"Floatin' up in the stars."

He leans in and places a quick kiss on her cheek, smack dab on a coral spiral.

"Right where we should be."

BLUSH.

"Art, you are NOT drek, no one here is. " Madern laughs though, "I think the Baroness just has high hopes for her fellow sidhe particularly one who is under her roof. She's going to be a bit more demanding of a fellow Shining Host. Which means you got a mixed blessing there. As for the stars? Seeing how INTIMIDATINGLY smart you both are in your areas I would not be surprised if you both hit the cosmos."

He grins and ducks away before she can swat at him. "To the baroness, there is enameling to be done here."

"Go on, git." She shoos them away,

Madern goes to 'git' with Art, noting Thistle did not give Art his pen back. So either she didn't think it was his so kept it, orrr she knows it's his but she's holding onto it so he'll come back to her sooner and she'll have something to remind her of him. You don't learn from a boggan without learning to at least THEORIZE about Social Dynamics even if you don't have the gift.

Art either allows it, or hasn't noticed it's gone!

(Both? Possibly both.)

Thistle, however, has ENAMEL to do - carefully filling in the filigree with the ground pigments in preparation for their final fire.

It must not be said the Baroness has left all the work of the new guest to Mavis. Far from it, Nadeen has occupied the woman a lot and been a gracious hostess. Currently she IS alone though, and clearing up a chess table. The chess set currently has marks of House Aesin and House Varich... for that is its' magic. It was a lovely gift, a set that's pieces take on the coloration of whatever House of the noble who plays it with a heavy tendency to still contrast in case colors are shared to avoid confusion. This marvelous gift which came upon a great holiday (Which RL stomped all over) has been a pleasant way for the Baron and Baroness to pass the time honing their keen intellects. Varich, of course, read patterns and it might be argued they cheat. This is not to say Nadeen always wins, indeed, one of those who live at the hold (We shan't name whom) has bested her more than once. Art can see how things went just by reading the table...

Art steps into the room with Madern, the quiet shifting slightly as the door closes behind them.

His attention immediately catches on the chessboard, and he steps forward, examining it for a long moment, before even remembing to greet the Baroness.

After a moment, he tilts his head slightly.

“Oh…” A faint, almost impressed exhale.

“Black overextended on the left flank early, but compensated by forcing the center trade too soon. That looks like it should have been decisive, except…” His gaze narrows a little. “Purple held the tempo on the edges and let the midgame collapse in Black’s favor without realizing it was a feint.”

He straightens a touch, looking from the board to Nadeen.

“So either your opponent misread the pressure… or you let them think they did?”

The Baroness looks impressed, "Excellent, Art. Yes, once I read her style, it became easier to use it against her. Like the saying goes, 'Never interrupt when your enemy is making a mistake' ... so the answer is a bit of both actually. We really must play again soon." She sees he is with Madern, "Ah, but I assume this is about the quest?"

Madern nods "Yes, Baroness." He bows "Art , Thistle and I have got some details for you the Head Imagineer Thistle thought we should pass on." He nudges Art to make with the explaining and earn some Sidhe points.

Art quickly steps up and outlines the basic idea behind Thistle's creation, and their need.

"So you see, if you were able to cast some sort of Winter cantrip for keeping the fruit in stasis..."

"I could indeed," She nods "It's a powerful one. Does Thistle wish me to cast it on the finished product or during the making of?" She steeples her fingers "And should the spell go wrong she might go back to square one. I'll want to use some dross to increase the odds of success."

He considers. "She may have some remnants from a Cold Sprite that she befriended with Gwen's help over the winter. Would such dross be suitable?"

"I think it might be ideal," Nadeen says after a moment of considering, "For it will carry on Thistle's resonance more easily as it was gifted to her. "

Art bows, "I'll see to it. Anything else we can provide to help prepare? Perhaps..." He carefully checks the doors and windows for listening Childlings, "Ice cream?"

Art tries not to look too hopeful on this note. He IS a Wilder now and should behave accordingly. But it IS a very warm day.

"Heck I can help you there," Madern says "My food truck has ice cream in it." Proudly "And even more ice cream making supplies if you want me to ask Marigold if she'd like to join me in getting fancy with an ice cream dish."

Nadeen looks to Arthur, "In some tales, before a quest or challenge began, there would be a feast of some sort. Ice cream in such heat will be welcome anyway, so that is a suitable suggestion and KIND to the Childlings," Nadeen stresses that a bit for the Squire,then adds "But since it will be served anyway, we wilders and the grand dames and graybeards among us should also partake... as a courtesy and to honor the upcoming quest. Take over the 'Ice Cream' plan, Squire. Be it soft serve or other wise."

A bright grin. "Yes, my lady! I will make it so. Thistle should be done with the Enameling work on her containment vessels by this afternoon, all da'an willing, and ready for a break."

"Excellent, it sounds as if you and Madern have the timing well in hand." She says "Unless there is anything else, I believe I shall finish with this chess set and tend to our guest. " Mostly because if Lady Seryn tries to order Bluebell to fetch her a drink, I worry it might end up with a laxative in it

"If I might advise... do take advantage of Miss Flo?" Art recommends, hesitantly. "The Aesin lady would know well to respect your handmaid as she would, beg pardon, a piece of property, and without the... ahh." A side glance towards Madern, ashamed to even say such, "... kith based, er, disregard, she may feel appropriate to a... non-sidhe... kith."

His cheeks burn.

"mmmm" Nadeen ponders "Perhaps. Boundaries will need be set. I shall not have Flo abused by another sidhe, but as you say, Lady Seryn might at least SEE boundaries there where she feels more free to test it elsewhere. I thank you for your counsel, Squire."