#darkgatefortress

The box is labeled elegantly, Carine Gilson Designs.

(Does she read it aloud?)

"Oh dear. I'm a bit overwhelmed" She shows Sylvi the card

"And yes, I kind of want to call Tiffany over in case it needs defusing"

Sylvi reads. "Now you're totally going to let me be the one to open it."

"Tiffany? She sounds cute. Oh, DO call her."

"She's married, Jasper, all he women in this world that you fancy are spoken for. It's a terrible Da'an but you've brought ito n yourself" Dryly. And she hands the box to Sylvi "if you insist, Sylvi"

Despite her dry words, she seems a bit amused at the pooka. ONLY a bit

Jasper tips an imaginary hat. "If you do not mind, I'll get back on the road. Someone is bound to miss me, you know, work is never done..."

"Wait.. i donn' know if you deserve a tip but.." She hands him a 20 "Now off with you. Out of the blast zone"

Sylvi nods and takes the box. "Honestly, though, she'd be pretty stupid to do something with a gift that has her name on the card."

'Annd discrection, please"

Sylvi takes the box and puts it on the kitchen island before opening it.

Wait, does his nametag say, "Jennifer" as he wanders off, with a swish of his tail? Oh well, he's gone now...

Within is a dressing gown, silken and lovely - not the same style as the one that clearly Calanthe noticed Nadeen admiring, but the same designer.

"She has good taste"

"No kidding." Sylvi's impressed.

This one is sheer silk, a pale gold color, and embroidered accents and black piping at the sleeves and belt, and appears to have been sent straight from a boutique.

"Why's she giving you boudoir clothes, again?" A dubious look at Nadeen.

Something catches Sylvi's eye on the tag.

"Well not like it was lingerie" a the Boudair talk "The problem is, I AM paranoid about it. And that's a shame if she means it well
"

"As if. Hang on..." She looks closer.

And she smirks. "Oh, that woman is awful. You're gonna have to return this, Nadeen."

"Dare I ask?" Wryly

She points at the tag. "There's no way she thinks you wear a size this big." And yes, it's about two sizes larger than what Nadeen normally wears.

"So," Nadeen does not seem surprised "it's to be war then"

Nor does she seem to be quite joking

"I'll sharpen your sword."

"You can do better than that... I'd like you to help me assemble a make up kit made 'especially to handle laugh lines' for her use.. given her need. I'll pay you"

"Want to send her an expensive make-up set with a really olive foundation?"

"We are so on the same page."

A warm smile on her face "I think you're the make up specialist. I'll give it as a gift, but I leave it to you to find just the right mix.. for her"

"Hey, if you're serious, I'm all about this particular project," she says enthusiastically.

"Oooooh...it can include an anti-aging cream."

"I am totally serious and.. that's brilliant. I'm reminded why I don't like being on your bad side" A girlish titter

"Hee-hee-hee!" Sylvi smiles and rubs her hands together with evil-genius glee.

"If you're bankrolling this, it's going to be all La Prairie products."

"I'm of two minds as for the dress... one, to see if it fits a troll, give it to your mother , let her know the story, she can be trusted to be discrete. Then I tell Calanthe.. '"Oh, I told the Hearth of Rivervale it was because you admired her so"'

"The other idea is to put it up for auction, as a part of a fund raiser , to help the commoners of Ithica pay off their mortges, health bills and or college debts. I am Reeve"

"Well, yes...or you could just return it for your own size."

"You think that's the best way? " A brow

"I'm really impressed by both of your options."

"Your mother has been kind to me, why shouldn't she get a nice dress? Adn if it throws Calannthe off so much the better . The down side is , I DO want to have it willow whispered to check for poisons or other chemicals added on" Wryly

"But if you think I should just exchange it... that's fine too I suppose. "

"Yeahhh...I don't think I want Mom caught up in it, even innocently."

Thoughtful, "Well, Calanthe is sure to see me auctioning this off as an insult, but the more I think about it, the more I.. like the idea. This petty contest she has insisted on, and I am all to willing to strike back at, thank you, is one thing. But I am Reeve. And I want to make Aidenn loved by his subjects and do some good too. What better way than to rally an auction of things andn have some proceeds go to the locals in need?"

Sylvi considers this. "Yes, y'know...that works. I can see it. 'Oh, Calanthe, thank you so much. It's such a shame that I'm actually smaller than the size you bought for me, but I've auctioned the robe off to provide funds for this and this and this!' " She smiles. "The nice thing then is that it means when Calanthe gets the insult of the make-up palette, there will be precedent for her to do the same thing, so it's not too much of a joke."

"Oh, I don't plan to tell her it's up for auction until itt's beinng sold with a few other things" A pause "Mmm"

A thought. "Nadeen, I just want to say...I mean, when you were first hunting around for a barony to claim, it seemed like it was all about you. I really like that, now, it's all about treating the subjects right."

"I mean, you're still strategic about it, but nothing wrong with that."