#datenight

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set the channel description: A room for people to use, for those touching moments. Hey now PG13 seesh guys!

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ha!

((I thought the DD was good. 😛 ))

OOC: And I like the description

She is dressed to the nines, but then again, she is sidhe. Her usual green and gold, though a bit more heavy on the gold. In silks, as always, as light and as delicate as she is. Her long bright hair braided back in a fancy braid, ended with a length of green silk ribbon. In her arms she carries a small parcel. It elegantly wrapped in brown paper and topped off with a wide golden ribbon. She follows the note and any directions that were left to her, on how to get there. She is a touch early too, not wanting to be late. If she is trod traveling she will also be armed, but her saber is peace tied as soon as the trod ends.

She finds herself at the Barony of Baywood...near the freehold...

Off the beaten path, an old and unusually large hunting lodge rests dangerously close to a waterfall. Overgrown rose bushes, and other flora turned feral in the long years of dereliction, abound. Ivy clings like a twisting tapestry over a corner of the lodge.

To Enchanted eyes, the freehold stands less a hunting lodge, and more of Tudor manor-house crafted of dark wood, surrounded by equally dark chimeric roses with gleaming silvered thorns. The Ivy twines about as if a coiling serpent. The windows are crafted of thick chimeric crystal set in lattices shaped like Celtic oghams.

The manor promises haven amidst the wild wood, but true adventure lies outside its walls in the darkling dells of the old-growth forest where sudden beauty startles the eye and danger awaits the unwary.

She pauses a moment, her golden eyes wide. Her lips forming a small 'o' at the beauty of the surrounding woods. She mutters something in Russian. Something about beauty. Then she shakes her head, and composes herself. Brushing off her already perfect skirts. She then takes a breath, moving up to knock on the door?

The door opens before she even does so. Piotr is there, dressed in varich colors openly, sunburst voile and a smile, "Illia, you made it. Please, come in. Father says we have the spring side of things to ourselves if you wish?"

"Ah yes." Slight color flushes her cheeks once more. "It is nice to see you again Piotr." Here when she says his name, she adds the proper Russian accent. "The spring side of things?" Her head tilts slightly to one side as she steps inside.

"Well, technically, it's Summer's gate," He delights in her accent, his own still very Concordian due to how he was raised, though his cadence grows more slavic in its way, "Please, come in and I'll explain."

He opens the door for her almost bowing as he does so.

She gives a graceful curtsy as she steps in the door. "Your hold is delightful. The forest reminds me of something from long ago." As she steps near he can catch the scents of summer, strawberry, and some sweetly scented soap.

"Oh, it used to be near undone waste land, but my folks have worked hard to help restore it over the many years."

The first thing one notices upon entering Summer's Gate is the deep warmth that seems to emanate from within. The high vaulted ceiling has sky lights lending daytime illumination to the hall that is already graced with multitudes of candles.

Straight ahead of the entrance is the Eiluned Banner, behind which is hidden a doorway that leads to a labyrinth of guest and private chambers, including the personal rooms of the Baron and Baroness.

To the left is a baronial hearth, where in the Summer months a great Balefire burns. Of course, as it is not yet Beltaine, for now it is still. The Banner of Baywood stretches above. Other light is provided by candelabras which burn bright beside the Summer Throne, which is placed to the right of the Balefire, mere inches higher than its Winter mate. This Summer Throne is alive with vines and dark roses, the wood of the richest oak. Winter's Throne to the left of the Balefire space and lower, is a cold replica of stone, nearly emanating frost.

Benches and tables line the walls to the Summer Hall, pulled out in times of feast. Around these are set a variety of plants in high stands, low-seated pots and widow-boxes, lending the feeling of a garden throughout the year. To the right lies the kitchen, with scents flowing to tantalize even the most finicky eater.

Hidden in the far-left corner of Summer's Gate is a trap door, which leads downward, separating Summer from Winter.

She spins slowly, silk fluttering around her. The green seems to melt away as her gown becomes much like her hair and eyes. A daughter of the sun, she clearly is. A beam of sunlight. Her skin becomes a little more tan, and her features start to change slightly. Her eyes more almond shaped. Her lips a touch more full. Her hair still gold, darkens slightly but does not loose its gleam. Almost as though a glamour is falling away. "Its all so lovely." She seems to be trying to take it in all at once.

"You should see it after Beltaine, when mother takes rule of the Barony there," He gestures to the Summer Throne, "And the Fire is at its most Seelie. For now, it's in Winter's Gate. My father rules below. I would invite you down there now but I'm afraid he's at audience," A sly smile, "And, besides, this way I have you to myself. May I get you food or drink?"

She flushes once again at the thought of them being alone. Then she shakes her head. "No Sir, Piotr." Slightly flustered. "I came to discuss something of a delicate nature." She frowns a bit as she looks down at her all gold voile. "Oh dear." A hem one the bottom of her silk skirts shows tiny suns done in delicate gold stitching. "As you can see I am not who I seem." She allows herself to speak freely here, her Russian accent not being held back, though it is still refined.

"You are, like I, Varich. I suspected it, and then when we sparred, I was certain," He says, "Mind you, a man would have to be blind not to want to focus on you... but only our House truly sees pattern in all things, yes?"

"Yes. That is true." She gives a demure nod of her head. "I am Varich. But much more also." She looks troubled. "I have an issue, a complicated one, and a long story to go with it. I was hoping to ask you, as a member of my house for help. If you can afford too. But I am in a tangled mess, and I do not wish to endanger you. For you are..." She pauses here, it seems the soft pink of her cheeks is forever about when Piotr is near. "A friend." Perhaps to shy to use the intended word.

"I'm flattered," Piotr says, his eyes seeming to bask in her trust, "I'm a baron without holdings, a diplomat who finds himself unable to tell a hold he visits that he hopes to mend torn bridges, and only a so so duelist," a slip of a smile at the last, "But what aid I have, well, I would not be amiss in giving it to a house mate in need. Please, have a seat?" He pulls out a chair at a table for two at the side of a wall with a window nearby so she might look outdoors at the beauty there if she wishes.

She gracefully takes a seat, fixing her now golden skirts just so. A little bit of the sun dreamed to life, and created by spun beams of bright light. "I am a spy." Her head bows a bit at this admission. "But I do not fully agree with the how and why." Her hands come to rest on the table. Even her finger nails are carefully kept, and the same color as her dress. "I am not sure how to start."

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Gently pressing the chair in, but not so much that she loses comfort, Piotr moves to the opposing side and slides in gracefully. Her words catch his attention, "I would say begin at the beginning, but perhaps I should ask who what or where are you spying upon?"

"On the sluagh, Jeremy." Stated softly, then she takes a breath. Her eyes come up and meet his bravely. "May I sir, your view on sluagh? Before I go on. If you do not mind."

"Very well, but please, do not alter what you would tell me based on my own statements, I pray you. Courtesy is one thing, I would not have you hide your true face from me when it need not be so," He implores firmly, then answers, "When I was a childling, freshly arrived from Arcadia, my memories mostly of a time before the great retreat, I found myself greatly distrusting them. Even before I knew my House, I did not wish to share the same room as they. However, my mother is an Eiluned, and has some respect for the kith. Further, she would not let me hold onto a bias she felt without warrant. Father was more practical, and pointed out that denying oneself access to one 10th of our society, more or less, was self defeating. Over time I began to put my prejudices aside. Now I see they are so many life times removed from their great crime that, reborn souls or not, it's not just silly to blame them for the crime against our founder, it snares patterns and works against us. In fact, while I would not say I have any good 'friends' that are sluagh, I have met some I like and respect. And I have been working to make friends with some of them and set up better relations so that when I do reveal myself, the sluagh of Firnost will see we do vary in our views. ALso, it's just foolish to let a possible Kith-House feud risk mutual access to one of the greatest trod clusters Concordia knows."

She smiles a touch at his answer, golden lashes fluttering as she thinks out her next words. "It was last summer, a sidhe and a sluagh were caught on our trods in Pacifica. They offended the trod guards and a few of our knights. But the sidhe. "A falcon, Simon I think by name. For a trial by combat. To first blood of course. A deal was worked you and the type of combat agreed upon. Then during the night, the sidhe and the sluagh tried to escape." She pauses then. "I must admit, though the Falcon was treated well, the sluagh was not. I am afraid the hold is rather traditional in their views. But it did not seem right...."

"Ah," Piotr nods, "Yes, I have made the incident as much as my interest as I dare, going so far as to have employed eyes and ears not my own to scrutinize the situation. In my opinion... Jeremy's..punishment is the result of short sighed excess." A frown, "And it has hurt us greatly in one of the most important commoner mews of Concordia."

She takes a breath. "I don't think they were intending for him to leave at all." Said softly. "I thought, I thought perhaps they would have a duel, as if we won...it would solve many things." She looks away then. "The sluagh would have only had to stay for a year and a day in our service and if the Champion had won I would be safe from my fate too..." Her brow furrows. "This is making no sense is it..."

"Take a moment, and a breath if it helps," He suggests, "And let me know if it would come easier over tea... or even vodka..." A smile at that, but it's short lived, "A year and a day? That certainly sounds more reasonable than the torture I hear of. I honestly cannot condone that part." A sigh, "but go on. 'Your fate' What fate do you need saving from?"

She shakes her head. "This is not about me." She sticks out her chin ever so slightly. A touch of a stubborn streak showing up. "Anyway...they did torture him." Her voice lowers to a near whisper. "They used iron Piotr. No matter what that is not right." A pause as she gathers her thoughts. "He escaped..after being captured not once, but twice. I was hoping it would be over.But then the bad things started happening, curses and people dying. They wanted me and another to find him and bring him back. Have him punished again for what happened after. Only, I do not believe he did them. He was hurt badly. I talked with him....I just don't know what to do. If we take him again he won't live....but so many people have gotten ill, even died..." Her face crumples though she does not cry. Her accent gets a touch thicker though.

He appraises her his eyes drinking in her moods and tone, "Tell me more about what happened after...the illness and more. This I had not heard as much of."

"My mentor fell ill and passed. My champion who kept me safe from the time I was first discovered. I was considered a worthless girl. Lovely, but all my looks were really good for was finding the hold alliances within House Balor." A strange look, perhaps one of defiance. "But the sickness was horrible. They suffered so much before they passed." A hand brought to her lips. Its clear that she is speaking the truth. "My little brother. He is disfigured from it..though alive. Commoners passed too. It was not picky. And shadow chimera hunted within the halls of the hold. Even mundane issues were pressed against us. Water cut off...rumors spread. I do not believe one very hurt sluagh could have done this. But..perhaps he had friends that did so?" She shakes her head. "Just the same, my house wants him back. They want revenge for those who have passed."

"Balor," He says the word with a slow distaste, "They wanted to have you marry a Balor? There are exceptions I suppose but they are unsavory sorts to my mind. Then again, I have some hold over bias from when I was a child and one of their number hunted me." He steeples his fingers, "As for these situations, it's very likely the Firnost sluagh could wreck havoc. They're an eclectic bunch with many talents. However, what omens have been cast , what magics used to determine the ones who caused this if any? Ignorance and assumption may only cast an ever widening circle of escalation. Tell me the Varich of the hill did more than just assume it was all Jeremy's fault? Tell me they have gathered evidence, because I assure you this has already made our House almost impossibly closed off in some quarters and the sluagh for once will honestly be able to claim victim hood if we just yank their own away."

"I think they assume that if we catch Jeremy again, that they could get from him, the who." She pauses a moment. "They know a satyr and a pooka, at the very least, is involved." She looks to him again. "Piotr. I do not think handing Jeremy over will solve any thing. So many things could go wrong. What if we are cursed anew? What if the curses are attached to him. There are too many maybes."

"A satyr and a pooka are involved," A sigh, "In short, it is not just the Firnost sluagh but others. I am, sorry for those lost in this, I truly am. Cold Iron should never have been used, and that as much as anything makes me fear for undue Balor influence. It is one thing to keep an eye on them, to yoke them, it is another to risk BECOMING Balor," Truly troubled, "And the Firnostians, I wonder if they realize commoners fell to this. IF they are behind it. Let me assure those you work for of something, under torture, Jeremy will confess to a dozen crimes he did not do before fingering another...even as allies and friends besiege with even more torments if they weren't behind it before. Furthermore, it is honestly possible Jeremy doesn't know, or that someone who is NOT of Firnost is adding onto the pile. If I wanted to hurt a newly landed House and found it in a skirmish with a motley of immense size and power... then that motley would soon become my favorite scape goat. I could poison drinks and say "Jeremy's friends did it"... I could set loose Chimera, and say "Definitely made by Jeremy's friends"... and who knows, maybe they did do some of that....but who would notice if I did it too when such was going on?" A frown, "You say you think this plan is foolish, and could go wrong. Why not tell your superiors so?"

"Because they are blinded by shame and by their preconceived beliefs. I am nothing to them." Not said with shame, or pity. Just factually. "I don't think any amount of talk on my part will change their minds." She ponders for a long moment. "They do not see commoners as people with power. Rather people used to prop themselves up." She pauses moment. "Mind you. There are those in my hold that do not agree. But those with the most power, believe this."

"You are nothing to them? " He says stunned, "Illia, our House's rage against Sluagh I understand even if I think it is long past time to let it go. But why do they discount you? or any fellow Varich for that matter? Our House thrives on challenges even from within. We welcome the Obtenyani who disagree with the main house. Why would they ignore your voice as you say they do?"

"Its just how it has been." Said softly. "The champion is female. I do not believe it to be all females." She shrugs lightly. "Perhaps it is something I have still to find out." She gives a slight smile. "And they are using me, now, as we speak, so to say. As a spy, as a distraction. As long as I do this, I am not yet married off to that Balor Lord." She pauses. "Perhaps they see me as less..because I swing to the summer side of things."

"It is possible your beauty blinds me to some part of the pattern, I admit it, " He says with a frown, "But I cannot see why they would discount you." A pause, "Tell me of this Balor lord?"

She shakes her head. "He matters very little right now." Stated softly. "My concern is this mess. Of Jeremy, of Ice, of the other sluagh. They do not seem to fit the tales I was told. I don't want more harm to come to the hold." She takes a breath. "And I want no more to happen to Firnost." She now shows her first sign of of a tear, though it does not escape the corner of her eye. "I want it over, to have never happened. But that is a child's wish." She takes a breath. A graceful hand coming up to brush the tear away. "Perhaps you, someone with words that are way more skilled than mine, can think of way?"

"He may matter more than you think, it is the threads under the tapestry that often give the most shape to the finished product," He advises, "It is possible a third party is at play. He maybe that third party, he may not, " Piotr considers, "I'm a diplomat but my usual methods work when folks are WILLING to come to a table together. Illia, right now, you are delaying this matter... so you need not go to this Balor, and because you feel it is wrong. How long do you think you can continue to postpone it?"

"Not much longer. They are not happy. I think they know that I know more than they say." She looks off to the side out the window. "The other one they sent, he is currently in the hospital. It gave me some breathing room. But when he is well, we must move forward."

"Other one? Who is the other one, and how did he get into the hospital?"

"Jarrod. Something went wrong with his stage show. He does magic. He is even more flighty than me." She looks thoughtful. "Perhaps someone could protect Jeremy. Of course being oath broken, I doubt many would." Her brow furrows slightly, her cheeks slightly pale of color now, clearly she is in thought. Perhaps a change of scenery is helping?

"And Jarrod was known to be a Varich? Or did he too hide his house?"

"He too is under cover. It is not wise to be our House within Firnost." She points out.