#earthrunes

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Vince came to Earth Runes for the most mundane of reasons, no really... he'd got caught in a conversation with an insurance salesman and it had really drained him. It was a kindly boggan who saw how down on glamour he was, and told him the nearest place was the Baroness' place, "It's on a hill with sort of a sunken in mansion kind of look, used to have a lot more mysterious fog, now it's more. ..romantic mist. They've been hiring like crazy so they probably wont' give you a hard time when you show up."

"Ned... Ned Ryerson. Ned the Head..." Vince idly chats to himself as he approaches the fog shrouded holding, dredging what little relief he could from the onslaught of premiums and deductibles with memory of a rather topical movie.

And, with the sound of trains on rails in the distance proving oddly prophetic, Vince finds himself approaching what to anyone else might look like a fog shrouded cabin on a mound/hill, but to his fae eyes does indeed take on a far grander tableau. And yes, darn it, it the fog does have that perfect consistency for lovers playing hide and seek. "Halt and be recognized!" A voice of a troll thane booms. the other troll near him goes "Easy, the new Baroness prefers a warmer touch." "oh right, halt and be recognized! Please." He adds.

The tall man pauses - at 6'7", he doesn't so much have to look up at most trolls, but he holds up his hands for a moment in an "I'm innocent" or perhaps "I'm unarmed", and he carries an easygoing smile. A moment passes before he offers one of his hands outstretched. "Ned, Ned Ryerson. A pleasure, to be true. My friends call me Vinny, no relation to Minnie, as I'm not a moocher."

"It's a pooka" One says with a put upon look. /The other whispers back, "Just don't let them stand behind you and it's cool, remember the lessons of the elders. ' then speaks up, "And your business? Uhmm Vinny?"

His hand comes back, unshaken, but the man is nonplussed and runs it through his mane of hair as if that was his intent the entire time. "I'm a warrior by trade, the best in the land, but I've lowered my fists in favor of a truer calling. Surely, with but a glance, you might tell what occupation I come here seeking employment in?" Striking a most noble pose, then dropping to one knee as if in supplication. "A night to bask in the flames of your bale would not go amiss either, should you have the space to spare. A tabby such as I, I'll take up not but a corner on the hearthrug."

"I would gladly deign to sweep the floors with my tail, though it be a most noble brush for the calling. Should your lord or lady require a scratch on their back, my claws are at their calling - gently, most gently, I assure you!"

"And if there are errant gazelle that graze upon the landscaping ruining the flow of your gardens..." He licks his chops.

"Go on in" one says after a time, "Steward Delores is in right now. See her. She'll talk to you about jobs..." After a moment of trollish brow knit "No gazelle."

"Alas, no holding is perfect." He says, with true regret. "A finer steak is not to be had across Concordia." Standing up and brushing off his knee, he flicks a quick salute to each troll in a passing. A swish of his tail, which brushes lightly across the thigh of the first Thane - surely just a coincidence. Though the flip of his mane as he turns to give a wink behind him... perhaps not. Continuing onward and inward!

The first Thane sighs and looks at the other, "I miss working for Eiluned." //"There there..." /// and with those two behind him, Vince heads into the crowded and bustling hallways. It would appear childlings recently show go carts through the hallway leaving duel trails of mud. Maids are cleaning

He admires the sights as he moves down the hallways - this archway, that engraved sconce, this plump and curvy boggan maid... focus, Vinci! Turning around and taking care to avoid stepping in the mud with his designer leather shoes. A pause to lightly catch the elbow of a man hurrying past with a notepad - those with notes often know what is going on. "Pardon me, Seneschal, but where might I find the Fair Steward Delores?"

"Delores," A woman calls out, "I think we've got another one..."

Another boggan, and yes, darn it, she's got nice curves herself comes out, "Oh, hello." She smooths gray dress, "You must be the new bartender. I didn't realize he'd picked one. This way, this way." She motions for him to follow

His eyes widen a little, and he actually looks suprised, but it quickly fades into a wide grin, that of the cat that has finally caught the canary. "Oh, yes, most certainly. Delores, Delores, I am here for you, you know. I shall undertake my very best to rid your heart of woe." Sweeping her a courtier's bow, before snapping his heels together with a click and following briskly behind.

Delores blushes, "Yep, you'll fit in fine with the Fiona feel of the place and no Doubt Baroness Coradel will like you" She guides him down set of steps, and into a lower level where there is door, "This is Jack's place, get a feel for it. He's head bartender, of course. I wish he'd given me more news, I don't even know your name." The door oopens to show a very cozy tavern with hand crafted wooden stools, lovely bar top, and quite the collection of booze

"Baroness Cora..." He starts to ask, a flicker of.. of something lighting his eyes, but the thought fades away as he steps into the tavern, with a low whistle of appreciation at the well-tended bar. He steps forward, running a hand over the polished bartop - then, leaning forward with a effortless motion, one hand atop the bar to swing himself up and over it and land lightly behind the counter - looking at home as he turns and bustles, picking up a bottle and checking the label before setting it slightly aside in a different place, giving the seltzer pump a quick 'spritz' to check the pressure, and then turning to give Delores a wide smile. "Yes, yes, this will do nicely. Now, of course, the interview. What is your poison, my dear? A figure of speech, of course, of course."

"Well, you look like you were born to it, " She smiles. Vince notices from the other side of the bar a note has fallen down, it says Delores, the guy I called in to see if he wanted to be my assistant passed so don't worry about it for now. I know I told you Vance was a lock, but looks like I was wrong. No harm done, -Jack

Of course, Delores doesn't see it. "You just serve drinks to whoever comes in, we'll call that your audition. If you're good enoough for Jack, oh what was your name? Started with a V... I think... well, if good enough for him good enough for me."

The note is quickly whisked out of view by a sweep of his tufted tail, to be tidied up later. "da Vinci, or Vince, or Vinnie, whatever pleases the Laird of the Manor, as it were. Jack gave me the rundown, but he didn't do anything near enough justice. Now, can I offer you a drink, perhaps? Or... when you're off duty for the day?" Leaning forward and giving her a winning smile.

Delores, alas, is not yet halfway through her todos for the day, and has to bustle off. Vince turns and surveys his new domain. "Oh, yes. This will do QUITE nicely." Already his eyes taking on a hint of a golden gleam, his hair a more tawny hue as he basks in the freehold's presence.

But no moocher he, as he had promised, and he immediately sets to work reviewing the contents of the bar - one jar of pickled olives sniffed and almost thrown away, his nose wrinkling up at the sour stench - then, at second thought, set on a far bottom shelf with the lid well-tightened, for those who may prefer a more fetid flavour to their libations.

Glasses looked over and straightened, the cocktail shaker and muddlers moved to where a man of his height can more easily grasp them at hand, and then he settles back, a bartender's apron tied over his silk shirt and tailored slacks, and lounges in wait for his first visitor of the day.

-----And, scene... for now!----

Meanwhile....

Coradel sits upon the dais in the audience hall, setting aside the last of the day's documents with a bit of a sigh.

Sparrow is on the steps of the dais, sketchbook balanced on her knees.

Her pencil is softly scratching away.

She looks to the winged artist with a smile, trying to get a peek. "What are you working on?"

"Hands!" She looks up and turns the book to face Cora - indeed, a collection of them are scattered across the page in different poses.

"Hands?" She looks, then holds up one of her own hands, to imitate one of the poses.

"Why hands?"

"Why not? They're actually very complex... lots of moving parts and weird proportions. Less weird than feet, though. Have you ever really looked at feet?"

"Feet? Of course I've..." she pauses, then frowns. "Hm. Feet." She looks at her own slippered foot.

"So - practice, until I get them right. Even Da Vinci did study after study..."

"Knock, knock..." Comes a call from down the hall, and a tall man meanders in, pushing a small cart in front of him which clinks lightly as he walks. He pauses a few feet away from the duo, near the 'supplicant's area' where presumably folk present their requests, and sweeps a formal courtier's bow to both Sidhe ladies, his leg tilted just so and hand extended at precisely the proper position... though he does glance up, grinning, as strands of his unruly mane fall free of the bun that strains to contain it, falling forward over his face.

A "Pffffbbtbtbtb" exhalation as he blows at the strands, trying to get them to waft away from where they tickle his broad nose, adorned with a light fuzz and whiskers that flick free of his well-groomed beard.

"Hi! You're new."

"Da Vinci...?" She starts to respond to Deryn, but then turns to look as the....very tall, very handsome pooka enters. And her eyes widen.

"Am I? I -swear- that I heard you just call for me." And turning his head towards the Baroness, still in the same bow. "And you as well, just now, my... lady..." He trails off for a moment, blinking, and his head cants to one side as he peers intently at Coradel.

A soft laugh. "You must be new, my friend."

Her brow furrows delicately. "I..." A slow nod, her eyes never leaving his. "Hello."

She shifts and clears her throat. "I do not think I've seen you...here...before."

Her wings settle around her shoulders as she watches the pooka with mild interest.

He slowly straightens up from the bow, his eyes, now more golden than blue-grey, on Coradel's as well. His brow furrows, and the smooth-tongued pooka seems lost for words - but only for a moment. "How can you say as much, my Lady? When you wear my sigil upon your heart?"

His hand moves to press against his own chest, and he takes a few long-legged steps forward, the cart forgotten, and his furred ears swivel forward. A sudden smile breaks over his face as recognition lights up his features.

"Why.. as I live and breathe. Coradel... I hadn't dreamt that I might find you again. Outside of the Dream where I knew you, and you knew me, Lioness..." This last, said with affection in the manner of a pet name.

Her wings rise, a little half-mantled pose. Emerald eyes flick between Lion and Lioness.

Her eyes widen further, and she stands, coloring. "I...it's...Da Vinci? Is that right?"

"Or...there was something else...I..." Then a grin. "Whiskers?"

Is... is he -blushing-? It's hard to tell, but there definitely seems to be a rouge hue under his whiskers, beard and feline both.

"I knew it was you! Well, of.. of course I did, didn't I travel the country over, hill and dale, hither and yon, just to find you?" A laugh, and he strides forward, arms outstretched for a hug.

She smiles and moves into the hug. "I think perhaps I should doubt that, but...seeing you is a wonderful surprise."

One eyebrow slowly travels north.

He lifts her right off the floor, and thankfully has the sense of mind to take a few steps back from where Sparrow sits before giving her a bearhug and spin around, before setting her back lightly on her feet and releasing, his hands reaching down to take hers, dwarfed in his hands. "It's... I'd be lying if I said it wasn't damn good to see you, and you know I'd never tell a lie. Cross my heart, swear to Aslan..."