#ccsemberclub

"Oh, that was... very nice." he chortles "If I were still actively in the game I would consider having them stay in Rivervale. Well-nested operatives, you know...."

"I understand. Though Rivervale always struck me as a bit backwoods ,too much so to matter in the big picture"

"Still, it's pleasing to see them come around.. not that one must be winter side to be interesting, but they're more fun for us."

"How -much- fun would you like them to be?" with an eyebrow.

A laugh, "Did you see Brenda making that play? She'll be his slave, but only if he's the master she wants him to be. I'm actually impressed, and I won't lie, intrigued. Why? Do you want her?" She does not seem offended

"She came close when we were on the operation. I didn't want her be distracted, though. You seemed protective of her." he shrugs "I would not be adverse, if it would help us."

"I happen to know" She runs a finger along his chest "That while you are dedicated to the freedom of commoners and the overthrow of the system, you do enjoy the pleasures of life on their own merits. I see other men, I'm not offended if you see other women. We both know that our bedroom is for just us, and each other comes first, but otherwise I am not offended"

"oh, and don't cook with her" Odd rule that

He chuckles "I will not cook with her." he reassures before asking "What about you? Kyle, Brenda, both?" without jealousy or concern.

"Oh Brenda's playing that as much to get Kyle going as her interest in me. But there is some serious interest in her yet. I think part of her wants to use me to learn, and that's no shame o neither of us. I do find her charming. She's turning into a skilled shapeshifter and no shame in using it. That adds to the intrigue. I honestly think 'becoming the mask' makes it easier for her to abandon her old restraints. As for Kyle? A bit demanding.. but handsome, and when thinks honor is a lie, he has a devious mind. I'm fond of devious men" She smirks at her lover, "Really, when he's willing to break some ethics, I like him more."

"Oh, Winter is such a lovely season...." he smirks.

"Now I'm going to be all worried you only like me in red, not green." A grin "I do think we should do our best to show them every advantage of winter living, even if you pretend to be a poor Seelie too smitten to pull away from wicked me. Your option. I know you value folks assuming your'e as summery as the 4th of July"

"Consider it vital camouflage." he points out "And no, red or green I love you and all the challenges you present. The idea of showing the Thomases all of the winter wonder is delicous, Dearest."

"Lovely, now you keep asking me what I want and I DO appreciate that. But what do YOU want them to be? Obviously you can't make a silks purse out of a sow's ear, but no sows here , close your eyes a bit, and tell me what paths would you like to take, who do you want to help us guide them into being. Imagine them three years from now as their best selves, not just for the cause, but for you."

"Mmmm....." he pours himself a nightcap and settles on the couch to close his eyes and contemplate.

She waits patiently while he summons the many visions to his mind of what they COULD be, and what would be best, not just for the cause, but for his company or the like. mmm

An inhale.

"Dearest, what is your assessment of them when summer comes? Would they more-or-less stay the course, or be overcome with guilt and throw their missions over?"

"Oh you always fish for more angles and hooks before commiting" She fusses, "It's probably smart to do so, but it does make it hard to get answers out of you in a timely way" But she does consider "I think Brenda feels avenged, but even Seelie she finds the system insane, and she's right. I think the anger is down to low embers, but it still burns. Kyle? Kyle resents the lack of autonomy the system has in place. He was succesful and al so charitable... and suddenly he's working for everyone with a title, and he doesn't care for that"

He asks even as he considers each of the couple, and their dynamic, to feel it out; are they reliable, no matter the court?

"I think if they suddenly went Seelie again during a mission, for Brenda the anger might be enough. She might go gentler on individuals but woudl carry through. For Kyle? " A frown "Harder to say, but I think his loyalty to his wife would over ride loyalty to anyone else. he's not sworn to any lord ,and I am 90% sure he'd decline that. "

((What does EBG's boggan-sense tell him?)

The dynamics between Brenda and Kyle are complex but not too much for a boggan. She loves him. he loves her. However, she had begun to lose respect for him, and he very badly wants her respect. That might be the key, further, he IS still a troll. Convince him that the nobles are a threat to his wife or daughter, and he could be implacable against them

Considering all this, William muses "It is interesting that Kyle did not burn so hotly against the nobility that condemed his son. Adopted son, though; Lily is the child of his body. Perhaps that is it."

"Perhaps, or perhaps he wasn't as sure it was the namer's fault. Still... the orginal question, what would you have them be, what would you prefer them to be, for your own enjoyment as well as the cause?"

"Deep-cover operatives, implanted in a place we want information and influence in. I'm thinking of the type of thing found in World-War 2 sabatour mauals."

""A fifth column" A nod "That's for the cause.. now for yourself? Not their purpose alone, but their new behaviors, attitudes and .. if you had to put up with them every third weekend. That sort of thing. What would make you enjoy them as people?" He had only answered half her querry

"Well, that would be the fun of it." he is a bit puzzled "Getting reports from them, making suggestions, considering options, hearing how they play out...."

"We could organize a bridge game around it, or a pot luck?"

"That's not quite what I meant but it's nice. " SHe kisses him, "I guess I want a description of the 'better thems'... adjectives. For example, Klye sneaky and underhanded as few trolls are? Brenda more ruthless and manipultive? or maybe you prefer him dedicated and plotting and her a lackey to not one man, but a seductive minion to various rebel lords allowing you to use her to unify the vision of revolution? And yes, when a mission isn't underway, you want him easy going and clever, and her free spirited and eager for approval or what? You muse writers, surely you can understand the idea of 'character progression'" A wink

"Hm." this seems to be a new thought pattern for him "I've never considered an end-game for operatives. Not in that light. Better selves?"

"Albeit with your own biases and preferences of what a better self is, yes." She nods

"I suppose.... then.... I .... would like...." he sounds it out ".... that they be stronger. More canny. Better able to care for each other and their remaining family."

"We must look out for our own. For each other."

"That they can see past the lies and falsities of the nobility and can communnicate to others, to coming generations, how to do the same."

He pauses, thinking "I wonder they have not gone after thier son. Not that I'm eager to have another Sidhe in the world, but.... Brenda would kill to revenge him, but not seek him. Hm."

"A mission he had to do alone, so it was said, and not just by sidhe i hear"

"Ah." he nods "Well, as long as he stays there." an amused snort.

"I'm not going to tell Brenda THAT" She laughs then kisses him "Thank you for sharing your vision of them, what they could be with me"

He returns her kiss with bemusement. "My pleasure, Dearest. Although I do believe that, even in winter, you are corrupting me...."

"What? Just because I Imagine Brenda with at least five alter egos, and one of them your mistress you call infrequently have her play less than she is, others assuming she's a bimbo, but she collects information for you as they do so. Another, your femme fatltale assassin, and so on"

He chuckles. "Just because you are encouraging me to think altruistically about individuals."

"Of COURSE, I'm a giver love," She slides against him "It's what I do"

"Do you know, it occurs to me perhaps -I- could give something to -you-?"

"You do all the time. And don't you worry, I can visualzie Kyle in a fedora and a pin stripe suit like a crime boss... see, you have schemes, I have themes" A wink

"Perhaps we should have another theme night at the Club? Invite them?"

"Oh that might be fun. Down side of forgetting so much of samhain, I don't always get my costume fix" A grin "I like that"

"A 1920s theme, then." with a gleam in his eye.

"Mmm, want to see me in a flapper outfit eh?" but she approves

"Of course I do!" he chuckles "And this will put Kyle in that outfit you want to see him in. And out of, perhaps."