#brightwindsbarony

"While you and Stew and Grete have been rescuing our childlings - less swords, but of major importance."

Hope wipes her lips "I think, as Steward, I am ready to accept Pepper as one of our cooks, if you wanted my vote, Baroness"

"I did!"

"Oh! You made these, Pepper? Great!"

Stew munches "If we're going democratic where it comes to food. I say.." A munch "The redheaded cook may live. She has pleased us"

Irene rolls her eyes

Sylvi smiles at Hope. The Reluctant Steward seems less reluctant.

Indeed, Hope seems to be enjoying the crowd. And picking things up, as boggans do. A chuckle here and there.

Pepper looks flattered, and does ask Sylvi "how are things going? I mean, is this your job now helping different holds what need to be heard?"

"Well...I guess that's what it is in this case. I originally came just to see what kind of support Rivervale could offer."

Pepper says "Well, I'm giving this place a chance. Guess I'm helping cook. Long as I get a shot at kicking ass and making up for those jerk Trolls who worked for the Balor more to it"

Ashlee frowns at something, looking at Redfang and Pepper

"Cook AND kick ass."

Sylvi grins at Pepper, then catches Ashlee's frown. "Everything okay, Ashlee?"

She mumbles something

She leans in slightly towards Ashlee, and says quietly, "They're here now. That's at least something."

A nod to Grete then, to Sylvi "Sorry. Uhm. just.. cranky. Food's good"

The Gwydions in the room raise brows but leave it be

Grete looks to Sparrow. "Ashlee's family isn't very nice. I told her she could stay here." A pause. "She can stay here. If she wants. Right?"

"I met her mother," Sylvi adds, then shudders. "Grete's right...not nice is an understatement."

Ashlee says "I kind of worry about her, but I.. she's not nice" true

Otha says "Maybe we can bespell the woman"

Sparrow frowns and nods. "Your safety is, of course, para mount."

"I would prefer not to. Mortals should be handled with care - even unpleasant ones."

Otha says "oh yes. Liam rules. I apologize. I must remember that"

"Well, Lady Sparrow, I was hoping...I mean, she was really verbally abusive to Ashlee. If it's okay with Ashlee, could we make her mother forget her daughter? I know it's not a very Liam approach, but...she's awful."

Sparrow grimaces.

Ryder says "Like Hermoniee brainzapping her parents"

"She might be happier without having to deal with someone she thinks is ugly and dumb." A regretful look to Ashlee. "Even if the Baron did call her... something almost as mean. It's worse, when it's family. It really is."

Irene says "Wish I could loan you MY mom part time. She's actually pretty cool" The piskie admits "Boy I got bratty when I forgot who I was"

"I'm not saying Ashlee is. But her own ma said so."

A frown.

"No, family can be very cruel indeed."

Ashlee seems to be tryinng to hide behind the dogs again

"Ashlee, what do you want?"

"Maybe...maybe she doesn't have to decide right away, but if we can make her mom forget for at least a little while? So Ashlee can get a break here?"

"I don't to do the right thing. I want to be honorable. I want to follow the code of Dagda and... I want to.. I want to be a good person."

Ashlee says "I'm ugly outside. I know that. I don't want to be ugly in what I do"

Her feathers rumple. "A week. Ideally, we would have someone skilled in chicanery..."

A bit of a wince at Ashlee's comment about being ugly.

"Do we have to? She didn't seem like she wanted Ashlee there. Just tell her she got a scholarship... to a private academy? The Baron said I had tutors and governesses here. It's all still in the books somewhere."

"It's not really much of a lie."

"Xavier's academy!" Stew declares

To Grete, "That's how the Baron got away with keeping you?"

"My parents trusted him." A little evasive, but a nod.

"I saw the paperwork once. It was a LOT. I don't know what he spent it on, but I never got any of those lessons."

"Oh, wow."

"Not that I WANT to be a lady of society." A shake of her head, grimacing. It sounds awful.

"That could be a way to handle it... if we get the paperwork in order. A good cover story, no worries about mucking around with mortal brains with magic..."

"Do...do you have the resources to do that stuff, Lady Sparrow? Like, right now? We may need that week of buffer time to set it all up. Maybe two weeks."