#darkgatefortress

Sylvi has her fundraiser-selling smile on. "Hi! I'm Sylvi, and I'm representing the DarkGate fortress. This is Colton, DarkGate's Storm. We just noticed that you're here, and it's kind of surprising because I thought we knew most of the fae in the area, Ms....?" inviting a name to be shared.

"Mrs. Karbunkel" A smile "Yeah, I'm.. not social" the smile is nervous

"I totally understand," Sylvi says with a reassuring tone and gesture. "Not everybody is ready to come out and mix with others. That's part of why we're doing some outreach!" she smiles. "To meet you where you're most comfortable. Mind if we come in?"

"Oh this.. my house is a furkingg mess, looks like a bomb went off in there" She says

"Oh we don't mind" the Storm says "We're not big on appearances at the Fortress"

"We'd really appreciate a few moments." Sylvi beams winningly.

"Uhm.. well my son is in the backyard"

Or...perhaps there's also an undercurrent of you don't really have a choice in the matter in that smile.

But she openns the door

"Oh, maybe we can meet him, too? Is he also fae?"

"Nah.. he's uhm.. kiniain"

Colton entes in almost pushing the woman without touching her by sheer mass "LOVELY place, can't see why you were worried about it's looks"

"Oh, yes, this is very nice!" Sylvi echoes, following Colton in past Mrs. Karbunkel.

"thanks, look up... I'm sure you dark gate folk are busy... but i'm fine. Don' nneed the balefire"

"Oh?" Coltton asks "Found another source of glamour?"

"No! I mean.. I got others! " Mrs. Karbunkel rambles a bit "Creainggg stuff can do it for a nocker"

"Sure, of course. And musing dreamers gently is always recommended, right?"

She's idly looking around the living area. "Do you have any of your creations here?"

"Most of it's at the shop.. I sell science toys"

"Oh! Which shop? Here in town?"

"Yeah ..the Tinker Tower.. look .. if you wannt something liike parts for a baking soda volcano I can hook you up"

"Oh, now...isn't that just the greatest!" Sylvi seems to be very impressed. "Here you are, nurturing young minds, and maybe even helping out a dreamer or two to discover a love of STEM studies. They're not all so lucky, you know. We were just down the street and discovered that one of your neighbors, a boy named Bobby? He's a dreamer with some real engineering potential, it looks like, but somebody'd ravaged him," she finishes with a scandalized whisper. "Can you imagine?!" she says more loudly.

Mrs Karbunnel pales ..just for a moment but Sylvi can read it fast. Utter fear, near panic

"No.. who..whoever did that must have been desperate"

"I guess, but..." she shakes her head. "There's a freehold Right There, and any fae has a right to come and ask for help if they're in need, right? Hearing about a local ravaging is really upsetting. Especially for our Storm," she nods to Colton, who likely is trying to keep his temper in check while Sylvi works.

Innndeed, the Storm says "I'm Liam, don't you know?" His words are a bit clipped, almost cutting

"Welll , I can promise you I needed glamour I'd either make something or head to the fort. I've never ravaged for glamour in my life"

There's something Sylvi has learned about people when they get 'specific', and she just did

"That's so good to hear!" Sylvi nods with a tight smile. "Anyway, we've got Bobby sorted out, I think. Oh, maybe your son knows him? What's your son's name, anyway?"

"Ch..Chester. He's SO smart. Top of his classes.. most of his classes"

"Oh, you must be proud! It's excellent when a kid works hard to get the credit he deserves, right?" A brief pause for emphasis. "So...you should be aware that there's a local ravager, and keep an eye out. I'm not asking you to do anything that might interfere with your ability to take care of your son, of course. Just...alert us if you think you know something we should know. And honestly...since you've got a Dreamer right next door, it might be a wise idea to do what you can to keep him safe, too. We'll be checking in on him a lot, now that we know he's there, of course."

"Yes" She swallows

"Are Chester and Bobby friends?"

'yeah, chester's always on about how Boby's smart.. "

"We all have at least ONE Friend who is smarter thann us" Colton says

"Lucky, moe than smart that little.." the nocker starts to snap then says "Well, I am biased"

"Oh, I don't know," Sylvi says with a smile. "I'm pretty impressed with him, from what I've seen. And what's Chester's best subject?"

"Science" she says "He makes A pluses"

"Does he?" Sylvi says with a tone that might be impressed or might be skeptical. Still that smile, though. "Any other strong areas?"

"yeah he's great in most of his classes... smart kid. My kid is the smartest" A touch of a growl "I realize trolls donn't VALUE intellect"

"Oh! I see! So...it must be kind of galling to have a rival next door," Sylvi points out, her smile fading. If this woman's going to go ahead and just insist on making herself look like a suspect....

"Rival? Why would a kid be my rival? And Chester LIKES bobby"

"Oh, no, I mean a rival for your son's status as the smartest. But of course, if they're friends, I'm sure they don't see it that way."

"I didn't do NUTHINN" She says looking worried

A bland blink. "Did I say you did?"

Colton exchanges a glance annd grunnts in troll talk ("Why am I not arresting her now?")

"Course not, and I'm SO sorry about that happened to Bobby"

She glance back and says, "Mmm..." ("I'm considering it.")

"I'm sure you are," she says to Mrs. Karbunkle. "And rest assured, if we find any further evidence of ravaging in the area, we'll make sure to find the ravager and present them to the Chieftain for his judgment. Well! I think we've taken enough of your time. Thank you so much for letting us come in. I'm looking forward to checking out your store, too!" Bright smile, and she nods to Colton that they should leave.

Colton's eyes arre a bit dark, but he follows