#brightwindsbarony

Nessa seems a bit embarrassed and reluctant to discuss. "I... sort of... flipped out and trashed an aisle of the cutest stationary shop in town. Actually I think it's the only stationary shop in town."

"that doesn't sound like you at all," Ross says but gently "What did it.. what set it off ?"

"I'm not sure... Pepper said it sounded like an anxiety attack? The aisles felt so narrow, and it was like it was closing in on me and I was trapped with no way to escape..." A small shiver as she recalls it.

"Sounds like Claustrophobia of some sort" he nods

Then he frowns "And , I'm sorry, honey. I've felt it too. Not.. to that degree, but some areas in nthis hold are more comfortable than others. "

"It was just so small, and closed in." She repeats, feeling embarrassed now that the moment has passed, and it seems an overreaction now.

"Maybe it's part of being a centaur" he muses "I've been reading."

"You're always reading." She grins at her da.

"Well, when I'm not hiking in the great out doors. Too many gopher holes to be reading while I walk there" A grin "Met some interestting people. Remember the observatory ? turns out the guy there is a pooka ... I don't understand half of what he says, but it's an amazing spot when you see it as it really is. Anyways, one of the chimera there, a constellation, is shaped like a Centaur. I read up on it and more.. turns out the history of our kith, the Centaurs ,is pretty diverse. The Greeks thought we were drunken lecherous brutes for the most part, but I think they might be projecting. The greeks hardly get to thrown stones regarding drunken lechery. But there was this one guy, Chiron, who taught heroes, annd he was a centaur and very wise. I'm thinking our kith has some built in diversity more than 'Human torso on top of horse horso'"

She nods. "That's good to know. I don't want people to think that we're some sort of... ravening lushes."

"Ixion and Chiron and.. oh lots of variety." He says "Now, Ironically enough, Stu, and other pooka I don't undertand, loaned me some Xanth books. The author's rep is questionable, but the way Centaurs are depicted there is actually, overall, flattering. So I studied more. In more modern fiction, we seem to be the good guys. This is all beyond your old dad's expertise but I've seen stories change, folk lore vary, and I think a lot of folks also associate us with freedom now. Maybe that's why the idea of being corralled, even accidentally, makes us jumpy?"

"I guess that does make sense. The RV was the closest thing we had to home, but it felt stifling even so."

"It's all conjecture. It's okay though. I don't think you're banned for life from the paper store."

A sigh. "Even if not, I might need to beg a friend to shop for me, I don't think I could go back there. Even IF I wasn't embarrassed to death. Oh, but I do have one bit of news... I found a part time job!"

"Now honey you can't let one bad moment..." A pause "Job?"

An eager nod! "It's not much, just a little part time two days a week, at the library. The librarian there is very kind... and he kinda... sparkled, a little? Stu, that nice owl boy, seems to spend a lot of time there as well. Maybe we can look out for each other."

"Sounds good" her father says "Two days a week isn't much but it's better than nothing and gives you free time to get the hang of how to win at horseshoes and other things we're learning"

A blink, and she turns up a foot, looking curiously at the bottom. DOES she have horseshoes? She never thought to check...

(Player's option)

(Option one) she has bare hooves, her shoes on human feet almost invisible here in a hold

(Option two) She has horse shoes that match in color and pattern her mortal shoes.

"Oh!" She twists to show her dad the silver horseshoes that match her sneakers. "I guess they came with the... everything! That's a relief. I can't say I'd be eager to have someone hammering at my feet!"

"I have to say it would be weird" he looks at his own work boots and how they translated "I wonder what your mother looks like in heels now?"

A blink. "How about you find out?" Grinning, "When's the last time you two had a date night?"

"You know your mom and I haven't... "He looks thoughtful "An actual date? Geez, not since last year's anniversery"

"I mean, if you mean actually going out on a date and the whole shebang. Yeah, she's over due" He nods "now will your mom unwind enough to allow it?"

She nods! "I know an expert hair braider here who can get her dolled up...."

Speaking of braiding, where did that hairbrush go?

Nessa looks around. "I could have sworn I left it on this table... oh, someone must have tidied up for me."

"Oh? Maybe we have a spare. Ask the Steward?"

"And, I'll ask your mother"

"Oh, please do. I'll talk to Miss Hope, I did want to see if she knew where I could find a brush for my, um. Rump...." A pink cheeked grin. "My horso-torso. I don't know what to call it.. me!"

"Aft flanks?"

"That works, and sounds less silly then Cen-Taurso."

"Heh. " he flashes a smile.

Another trotting sound, either Clio or.. nope, it's Mom!

Nessa grins at her dad cheekily and gives her mom a quick kiss on the cheek. "Hi mom, bye mom... I was just heading out!" Leaving her parents alone together for a time.

It seems two can play at these games!

Confused mom! Dad gives her a brow, but breaks into a smile "so..." She hears him saying as she trots off "i was thinkingn"

But she moves through the hallways with ease.

If she comes to one area higher up, she might see a great ledge, and if she looks out, she might see a winged redhead in all her glory catching the winds

She steps carefully out onto the ledge - strange, despite being so much heavier than usual, she still feels fairly nimble and steady. Maybe it's the extra legs and wide stance that provide stability. Pushing her hair behind an ear as it's tossed by the breeze, she watches the sidhe soar for a time.

She's memorizing. All the sidhe are captivating, but Sparrow , pun intended, soars above them all.

Swoooop.

Land!

"Hello, Nessa!" A sunshine smile. She has a spattering of freckles, and wispy curls freed from her braid, yet somehow the flaws seem to add to her appeal.

Nessa carefully takes several steps back, lest she seem to be crowding her at the edge of the ledge. "Lady - Baroness Der-en-wydd." She pronounces it carefully, and gives a bow - one foreleg folded back underneath, and her top half tilted forward - perhaps not forward enough technically for the proper submission to a Baron or Baroness, but as low as she can go without feeling wobbly. "What is it like? Flying?"

"Oh, wonderful. Few places in the mortal world I feel safe doing it. I imagine it isn't far off how it feels to run like I saw you at it, the other day. And please - if we aren't in Court, or if you're not 'at work,' Sparrow or Deryn are fine. My parents gave me that welsh mouthful. It's lovely, but a lot."

A bright smile. "I appreciate that... Sparrow. I've been wondering if we oughtn't have special names too... but my new... gifts? Didn't seem to come with a label. I suppose it would be something Greek if so. Maybe I should be studying ancient languages..."

"Well, I picked Sparrow. Some fledges remember names, some pick them, some use their mortal names. There's no one true rule. If you wanted to be, like, Tholia the Swift, well, nobody would stop you."

"As for flying.. hm. Maybe one of the Rovers could be persuaded, I don't know if they have the art. There are magics that would let you ride the wind without wings. "