#brightwindsbarony

"When you got me painting gigs at a half dozen properties?"

"Oh no, Mister Famous Wrestler, I get to give you a painting. I think I can insist on that much!"

"The painting gigs were you EARNING things and more.. as talented as you are.. you should have charged more than you did"

"See?" hope says, but she does look impressed by what Sparrow said

"Well..." She shrugs.

"We'll work it out, one way or another" Caesar grins

"Alright then!"

"Now, you two sit down.. I'lm going to get a meal set up for you both so you can talk over old times and new plans"

"Thank you Hope! And thank you for not spilling the beans on me. Worth it for the look on his face!"

"it was fun" She grins

"Oh har har... but it was a pleasant surprise anyway" Caesar grins

"I hoped! So, let me tell you the whole story. It starts with Siv, surprising no one."

A snort "That girl's a walking catalyst for trouble"

Hope gets them a table for two, drinks, and a Tex Mex Pizza

And Sparrow fills Caesar in on the story - lots of praise for the different people involved!

Caesar says "I was wondering what the hell you FED Little Joe... "

but he growls "it's guys like Hark son that makes me almost want to join some anti monarchist group."

"Oh, I know."

"But.. Chimerical parasites? Holy .. pardon my french but holy shit"

"Too many nobles get the shiny hat stuck in their head, and forget the "oblige" part."

"Dead!"

"GOOD" he says and asks "Now the kids, they're rescued right?" His soft spot for little Caesarinos continue

"A chunk of them - I believe rumor holds there's at least one more around. Stu - the owl I told you about? I have him in charge of it, and he's been doing great."

"That was honestly... I mean, how can you have a freehold without childlings?"

"well you can have one but it's like a damn morgue, and not in the way Sluagh like"

"Even sluagh like childlings. There's two that visit Earth Runes, from time to time."

"Oh no arguementt. Zara's a bigger softy for them than she knows"

"Oh, not that the Librarian would ever admit such weakness!"

"Are there no prisons? Are there no workhouses? Here.. read the book that line was in" He mimes handing a book over in a whisper "Ignorance. Tisk"

Sparrow giggles.

From the shadows, Wenceslas wonders if he needs must report this?

"And she keeps getting books especially for the children... oh by chance she says.."

"I know right? " he laughs

"She would manage everyone in that hold through curated reading lists."

"I would not be surprised." A smile "Good thing they have emma, if it were up to Zara it would be 'read two chapters, and call me in the morning'"

"Well, that, or tea."

"Or both" he says

Wenceslas wouldn't work against the baroness, no, but information on the satyr? Fair game

"Fair point. But, well, she is an excellent librarian. The Seer is afraid of her, though."

"Sweet little Zara?" A pause then "Smart guy"

"I think it is important to respect the front a sluagh presents, and not question what they do in the shadows. Her secrets are not my business."

"And she's one of August's oldest friends, so I don't think she'd do anything to bring danger to the hold. She's a Modernist, you know."

"She is, and she's great" he nods " A wonderful person. I tease lightly, but I would and have trusted my life to her."

Well, perhaps the satyr will get off the hook Wenceslas notes

"Okay, this pizza is great." He says

"Right? I'm not sure if it was Hope or Pepper... I'll have to ask. The household has exploded in the past week. It's good - we need defenders, of course - but it can be a little overwhelming."

"I am inviting everyone in for Yule, to help mingle the two populations. It is no good to have the hold on the hill to serve and protect the populace, if they feel like they aren't part of all this..."

"Definitely. You have to have them unify..and you know, maybe my work in real estate would help with that too? Say duplexes or the like with local kithan and the new comers?"

A little ruffle. "Oh, that's smart!"

"I've seen it happen. I have an apartment complex in Rivervale... the Chief's got a Thane, Lut? Living there with a mortal "