#baronyofthesilverwolf

Thistle's rainbows are actually set off quite sharply by the stark neutral of the apron.

Permission seen, Art inclines his head and answers Lady Seryn with careful courtesy.

"It is my privilege and honor to serve here," he says evenly, keeping his tone warm and composed. "And I would not trade that for anything more formal or more distant. There is a great deal to be said for being among people who know one another well enough to act as family as well as court."

"If that is a shame, it is one I will bear with pride."

Madern is dressed to the nines, his old 'Downton abbey' meets Olive Garden outfit on.

Seryn looks taken aback a bit, and just scoffs a little into her wine.

"eloquently said, Squire," Nadeen supports his class and poise, "Now, Lady, if I am aright, we have for your pleasure quite a treat tonight, nothing as... done and done again as the Marrowfruit rut other holds are lost in, more is the petty .. ahem, pardon me, pity.." She motions the food to be served.

It must have been a slip of the tongue, she would never calla guest Petty.

Ahem.

Marigold enters efficiently, wiht Madern moving with her as they begin setting the table.

With polite precision, she addresses the table at large rather than any one person in particular.

"I believe you will find each course sufficient as it has been prepared specifically for two diners," she says evenly, placing the final setting with care. "Should you require more, of course, we can provide refills without difficulty."

The phrasing is courteous throughout, but... one might reasonably infer that the staff have already taken their share before the meal reached this table, and that what remains has been composed with that order of priority already decided.

Lady Seryn looks from Marigold to Nadeen and... sips her drink, clearly unsettled I think I was insulted, but I'm not certain and am not sure how to respond! Her look clearly says.

"Marvelous, Steward," Nadeen smiles, "I confess, I have been looking forward toward this."

Thistle watches the interplay with curiosity, content to be overlooked.

The first courses arrive in careful succession, each executed wperfectly.

Lady Seryn tastes her soup and despite it being delicious, it seems a bit cold at her expression.

Without looking up, Marigold speaks softly.

"It is inefficient to manage multiple seatings," she says. "I do apologize if the timing feels uneven. It is difficult to maintain temperature when service must be divided into segregated courses." Perfectly polite.

Nadeen’s soup, however, is held at a perfect, exact warmth, as though it had been waiting only for her.

Art restrains a smile and whispers as he passes Thistle, "I bet you could build a temperature monitoring crock..."

"Oh, furkin' totally."

Nadeen savors it, but hides any smile at her guest's annoyance. I should not encourage that, but still, Marigold has her own pride and honor

The courses progress in careful succession, each one more intricate than the last.

Finally it is time for the final course, and Marigold pauses, then turns to Nadeen with respectful formality.

"With your permission, my lady, would you care to announce the final course? Or shall I?"

"Please, each has been better than the last so as all was delightful, this I hope to be TRULY spectacular," Nadeen hopes she is not overplaying her hand or putting too much pressure, but that's the nice thing about having such a court, they excel and you can trust that excellence.

"The final course," she announces, "is Amberheart, drawn from the depths of the Dreaming, a fruit so rare it is spoken of more in legend than in certainty, and not seen in Concordia since before the resurgence, perhaps longer."

"It is here today because Lady Nadeen recognized the significance of the opportunity before others had even confirmed its existence, and acted with both foresight and authority to make its retrieval possible," she says, carefully shaping the emphasis toward credit and judgment,

“And it is through her discernment and the effort of Madern, Thistle, and Art, that this dish was brought to fruition in safe and proper form." A pause for breath, "Not only in its discovery but in the creation of a means to carry it beyond its native grove without loss, decay, or disturbance, preserving what would otherwise have been impossible to bring into this Autumn world intact.”

Seryn looks impressed despite herself, and intrigued.

Thistle glows, just a tiny bit.

Madern stands up straight and proud.

Art grins, the expression breaking his impression of a solemn and stalwart Sidhe lordling.

"Madern, would you do the honors?" Marigold gestures to the covered platter.

Madern says "WIth honor," He says and serves both ladies with a skilled hand to do so fanicily. None can deny a Piskey's deftness, and he has TRAINED for this.

indeed, Madern can be cheeky, even a bit mercenary at times ,but here? He is a perfect servant.

When the cover is lifted, there is a brief, deliberate pause as the dish is revealed.

At first glance it looks plain, simple - a rustic cobbler layered with soft golden fruit, surface glistening with warmth, paired with a smooth, pale cream that catches the light like fresh snow under sun. It is familiar, comforting, but not fancy.

Marigold allows that first impression to settle before speaking, her voice quiet but precise.

“Rare and perfectly preserved Amberheart,” she says, “slow-poached in its own nectar and reduced essence, layered over a pâte feuilletée enriched with cultured butter and rested through multiple folds to preserve its flake and tenderness, and served alongside a quenelle of ice cream churned from double cream, egg custard, and raw vanilla infusion, tempered to the precise point where it holds its shape while still yielding at the slightest warmth.”

She inclines her head slightly toward the dish.

“It is a simple presentation,” she adds, “only in the sense that anything perfected eventually becomes simple to the eye.”

Art swallows and tries not to drool.

Nadeen inhales gently, delicately, It smells divine, I can only imagine the taste." She inclines her head towards their guest, "Shall we test that now, Lady?"

Seryn stares a moment longer than is polite and has to be prompted again before she responds, her composure snapping back into place.
“Oh, yes. Certainly.”

The courses are served first to Baroness Nadeen, the amber nectar catching the light as it melts into the ice cream at precisely the right moment, rich and slow, designed to bloom across the palate rather than strike it.

Only then is the same course presented to Seryn, who, in a small breach of etiquette more from impatience than intent, takes a bite before Nadeen has fully begun hers.

Seeing it from the outside, the Trio can recognize the moment as the effect hits Seryn, and her eyes glaze over just a touch.

Madern thinks the Amberheart is too good for Seryn, but if it humbles her just a bit, wonderful.

Nadeen rides her own memories. It is possible only an Arcadian Sidhe can truly appreciate the Amberheart, for she swears it stirs joyful moments in the heart of Arcadia itself for her.

Seryn pauses mid-breath as the taste settles, and for a moment her composure simply slips away.

Her eyes drift unfocused, and the hall is gone.

She is in summer light, warm wind through tall grass, laughter unguarded and bright. A pooka is there with her, a Fox, quick-eyed and sharp-tongued, all wit and easy warmth. He speaks to her without regard for rank, and she laughs before she remembers she is not supposed to.

It is sweeter than anything she remembers from Arcadia.

Then the memory breaks. Authority returns like ice water, the moment is taken from her, and the boy is gone, leaving only the sting of what was
forbidden.

Seryn blinks, slowly returning to herself, the echo of that sweetness still unspooling behind her eyes. A single tear trickles down her cheek.

Nadeen takes a moment to collect herself, but her beauty has lit up as her passions were stired, then she says "If I never eat again in this world, I shall be content that was my last bite."

Seryn takes a moment to compose herself.

She looks to Nadeen at last, steadier now, though not entirely recovered.

“Your chef,” she says softly, “I would like to purchase her service. Name your price, or the terms by which her contract may be transferred, and I will meet them.”

Art almost chokes out something and covers it by a faux coughing fit.

Marigold's eyes flash, but she remains in her position, demurely deferring to Nadeen.

Thistle tries very very hard not to snort!

"And finally, FINALLY, you see a sliver of what I've been trying to teach you," Nadeen says and shakes her head, "Marigold is sworn to this hold WILLINGLY, and her devotion is not mine to trade or barter, but rather a gift she gave, though I like to think I earned it through deed in some small part. Her service is as bound to her honor as a troll's duty might be, and that is beyond price. And Thistle, without her genius, the Amberheart would not have survived this far even with my magics to aid. And the Squire? His knowledge proves always to be insightful. And Madern? Oh deft hands to carry the treasure... ALL of these contributed. 'It takes a freehold' to paraphrase a mortal saying, and a hold is more than it's fire, more than it's leaders... Truly Lady Seryn, you cannot afford the least of a part of it for you simply do not yet have the wealth that it is counted in. Perhaps Steward Marigold will humor you with recipe if you treat her as the artist that she is, and not merely my servant. Perhaps, though I do not count on it. You have treated me as if my value of those here was overblown, and this did distress me. But for now? As for your offer? " A pause "No. " She looks over at Marigold "Maestra, wonderfully done." Then to the others: Thistle, Art, Madern, "All of you, Bravo."

Lady Seryn straightens slowly, her earlier composure subdued. After a pause, she inclines her head.

“I apologize,” she says quietly. “It was not my intention to diminish what I have been shown.”

Her gaze lingers briefly on the table before lifting again. “And I thank you for the meal. It was finer than I anticipated, and I will make certain it is known as one of the finest to be found anywhere in the Kingdom of Apples.”

A breath, “I will return to my chambers,” she adds. “And I will take my leave early on the morrow.”

"Most gracious, " A gentle incline of Nadeen's head, "But do make sure you clean your plate before you do? I know I intend to. So please, if you would, stay with me long enough for that?"

(Pause or finish up as you need to, sorry ,must go)