#brightwindsbarony

Nessa turns, and it takes her a moment. "Dame Otha?" She guesses, based on height and voice.

"Yes, it's me" The wood spirit says

A smile. "I like your costume. Yes, I'm having fun. I was worried - it sounded like... well, nevermind. It was a nice party."

"Worried?" She looks up at the sky

Nessa leans back a bit as well, watching the stars. "This is my first Carnival. And maybe I don't understand fully yet... the interplay between nobles and commoners? But having a day when it's turned on it's head so that commoners get revenge... I've heard people in town grumbling about the old Baron. I worried that Sparrow would take heat for things she had nothing to do with." A bit of a flush. "Guess I'm just a worrywort, huh?"

"Actually," Otha says "You're very astute. You caught all that?" Impressed "yes, that was a concern, NO ONE is supposed to be harmed on Carnival. It risks a curse among other things. But people can be cruel without technically laying a finger on ou and might skirt that rule. And Harkson scarred and scared a lot of poeple."

"However , if you had been there two minutes more, you might have seen punching balloons made to look like Harkson littered about. In fact, I think one effigy is burning of him. THeir true rage, we hope, goes to his image"

"I'm glad I never had to meet him." She shakes her head.

"I too" she says "I hope you at least had some food?"

"I grabbed some of the snacks." A smile. "It was a bit crowded though. There was a big spread! I'll grab more when folk start cleaning out."

"Good, I was coming out here to read the stars on a holiday night.... " She looks up "So I"ll be over there, but I don't want you to think I' snubbing your company"

"Read the stars... she says, marveling a little. "I hope they have good things to tell you."

"I do too," An amused look, "Perhaps I'll see how the centaur shaped constellations fare" a curtsey and she withdraws

Sparrow emerges above, her chicken outfit still bright under the moonlight.

A glance over at the motion and moonlight on feathers. "You made it across the road." A smile.

"The Queen gave me a break. Air seemed like a good idea." She smiles back. "Enjoying your holiday?"

"Oh, the Queen. I've never seen Irene look so thrilled. Whose idea was it to bring her in for a holiday?"

"Hope and I sort of came to it together. Irene is usually so sunny, I think I missed some of this... "

"Irene's mom reminds me of my own, a bit. A warrior in her own way, willing to do whatever it takes to make a good life for her girl. It doesn't seem easy. Especially on her own, though."

Sparrow nods. "I am not sure how to help long-term... but they both seemed to be enjoying their "magic night," so that's a good start."

"She has certainly been a low-key monarch. Some can get rowdy."

“Oh? I thought it was nice. Would you have liked a livelier crew?”

"Honestly? Not really."

"It's been a nice night, for me - I'm afraid I'm not very good at jestering."

"Coradel - the Baroness at Earth Runes - she's so good at it. She manages to be so flashy and confident and funny..."

“I thought you were funny!” She giggles. “A chicken costume, really!”

Sparrow grins back. "Thanks! I'm pretty fond of it, too."

Looking back out over the night sky and the rocky hills. "I was thinking about Carnival. I'm not sure I understand the purpose, still."

"A chance for topsy turvy, for letting loose while at the same time protecting all from harm - it lets off pressure after months of darkness and cold."

A hoof taps contemplatively. "If they have a bad leader, like Harkson, no one can let loose for fear of reprisal. A good leader like you, and what is there to complain about?" She ponders. "I suppose, there's always choices you may face that will make you unpopular with one or the other. It's hard to solve any quarrel without a winner and a loser at times. I suppose if people are annoyed, more at the fact that they AREN'T the one in charge, it might be a good outlet. I bet Mother would have loved more than once to pop off at some of her bosses without fear of being fired."

"Exactly. Even a good boss is still The Boss."

"I think I'm too new for anybody to be quite sure, yet."

"You're the only Baroness I've known. You've made a pretty decent impression on me. On us, that is." Including her family.

Bright smile. "I'm trying! I want to do everything right."

"Well, someday when I'm the wrong end of things, I promise to save up any annoyance I have and bake it into a carnival pie."

"I hope you feel comfortable enough to be honest... but yes, that is the idea."

"And it can help humanize the liege-lord - this is especially important for Arcadian sidhe. Even autumn sidhe can be intimidating without meaning to..."

"It's that Blanchett appeal... All will love you and despair."

"I would worry that if I had to tell people what to do, they just wouldn't take me seriously... I don't have the confidence to lead. And if they had just seen me hit by a pie and then splashed into a dunk tank? Not a chance." She shakes her head, mane whisking. "You're brave to put yourself out there - and know you have to face everyone again in the morning!"

"As said, they've been kind tonight. And Hope hid the tomatoes."