#earthrunes

She laughs as she's spun, and is smiling as he takes her hands. "You're going to have to forgive me. I remember you...but only just. I have no memories about you." Apologetic.

"Oh, but I remember you. How could I forget? Days riding along the beach, the way that you could gentle even a stallion to let a vicious beast such as me to ride along side... dancing along the shorelines... the way that... ah..." He leans in and murmurs something in her ear, and the hint of a mischievous grin as his whiskers tickle against her cheek.

A slow smile as he whispers. "Ohhhhh....yes...." Then a sudden blink, and she looks back to Sparrow. "I...Da Vinci, this is Derynwydd. I don't know...would you remember her?"

"You know I really don't remember Arcadia, Cora, so I can't help here."

He gives her hands a squeeze, and then lets them go, taking a step back, and giving another bow to Sparrow. "Lady Derynwydd... a pleasure it is, to be sure. My memories of the olden days are flighty, at best, but I am sure I would remember such a lovely face. You and my lioness, here, are clearly birds of a feather. " Sweeping his arm as he bows. "L. Da Vinci, I am told is the name, but my friends call my Vinnie, or Vinci, or Vince. I hope that one of those sticks and you may do the same."

A murmur, "I'll still call you Whiskers."

""Hello, Vince. And welcome to Earth Runes!" A gentle sweep of her wings.

His eyes crinkle up with pleasure beyond what his smile can display. "Of course, though if I am knighted under your service, I must insist it be 'Sir Whiskers The Bold'." Back to Sparrow. "Everso happy to be here." A curious glance from the Liam to the Fiona. "Do you rule together, here? I had heard mention of two baronesses, and I see the Lion in the Tree. I really should take up climbing again, hmmm."

"I am the Chancellor. Coradel rules."

A smile at the climbing comment, then she nods at Sparrow's explanation. "Sparrow has far more training, expertise, and experience at courtly business than I, I'll admit. She's a superior Chancellor. She will likely have her own hold in the future. After school is done, yes..." As if to preclude an already familiar argument.

"Then I shall have to compose a sonnet to the Lady Chancellor, Derywydd the Just..." A sigh, regret coloring his tone. "But no, I would fear to put the court troubador out of a job, and what kind of thanks would that be to the court that has welcomed me in and given me gainful employ, let along respite against the cold Winter without? No, I am sorry, dear Chancellor, my words for you must go unsung."

"After, yes."

"Oh, we have two troubadours, and I think they'd give you quite the challenge. But Whisk--...Vinci, what are you doing here, honestly? Or as close to honestly as you can manage," she allows with a grin.

"Well, it is my pleasure to introduce to you the most recent addition to your staff, under the expert tutelage of Jack and vouched for by dearest Delores.

I will serve you, my ladies, as your leonine purveyor of liquors, though I be not ursine, I shall gladly be thy cup-bearer. The puss in the pub, the Mixologist of Meow, Vinci the Vintner, they call me, haven't you heard?"

He leans back to draw the silver cart forward once more, and flourishes a hand towards the glasses atop it, and the bottles visible within. "May I offer my ladies an apéritif before you retire to sup?"

"Cora, I think I'll like your friend." She laughs, then drops to a stage whisper. "You think he'll let me draw him?"

"You're working here? That's...well,, welcome indeed! And yes...thank you. I'll let you decide what to make."

A flick of one ear, and he purrs towards Sparrow. "Like one of your french cats, hmmm?"

"Oh, if my memory is correct, I think he'd let you do more than that, if you were at all interested, Deryn."

"Well, maybe!" She grins. "And... sure. A surprise drink. Something sweet?"

A sudden blush, when Coora's aside processes. "Well, not that. He's not my type, really..."

"Ahh, I've got just the thing." He slides behind the cart, and goes to work, his flourishes making it into a veritable show, as he narrates his actions.

"We start with bourbon, hot and sweet, and just a splash of lime - yes, with bourbon, don't let me lose you just yet! Simple syrup, just a touch, to offset your natural sweetness, and a pimento dram - a misnomer, to be sure, as it's allspice, not olives! And you mix them just so..."

As he sets aside the mixture, he takes up two martini glasses, cupping just the bowls in his fingertips as he leans in and exhales over them, murmuring, "Candy is dandy, but liquor is quicker..." And spiderwebs of frost grow forth from where his fingers press on the glass, and from his breath, until each glass is completely frosted over, leaving the stems only clear and easy to hold.

Each glass is quickly filled before the chill can fade, and a dash of bitters to each, before he offers one to each lady in an outstretched hand.

"A Lion's Tail, my ladies."

The liquor is rich and spicy, a touch of heat and just tart enough to keep things interesting - the ingredients sounding weird together, to be sure, but scrumptious in the glass, chilled just to the right temperature.

A smile to Sparrow, and then she watches the process with fascination. "Ohhh....oh, that's lovely." She takes the glass carefully, admiring the artistry of it.

"Flashy." A sniff and a cautious sip.

A sip, and a smile. "Oh, I hope Jack appreciates you as a protege...I'll want to keep these around." A wink, and she toasts him before taking another sip.

She looks at him over the edge of her glass as she drinks.

"Flashy, to be sure, but what's life without a little pizazz? Any mook can pour smirnoff into a shotglass - it takes an artist to turn it into an experience. A grin, showing no offense taken.

"You must think of what flavors you prefer, Lady Derynwydd, so that I might make a signature cocktail for you as well."

She ducks her head. "I haven't done a lot of drinking, really..."

"Oh, not you, too, Deryn. August is so hesitant about it. Well, I'm happy to do the drinking for all of us, I suppose."

"I'm not unwilling. Just not very knowledgeable. Last time I was at a bar, I made other people pick drinks for me..."

"The blue stuff was dangerous, if I recall correctly."

"Dangerous can be fun." Coradel smiles.

"Never you mind, not in the slightest. The mark of a true mixologist is that you can make a drink that will appeal to any, and it doesn't even need to have liquor in it, if you so prefer.

Or, if you are interested in branching out, Lady of the Tree, let me know what you are fond of, and I would love the chance to introduce you to a world of libatious pleasures."

Such innocence as he, has never been seen. Angelic, to be sure.

She smiles, watching him work his charms...and appreciating the view.

"Maybe I could see what the great artists drank - say, Picasso or Frida or Mucha...."

"Or Da Vinci, of course."

A nod. "That might be an interesting tour. A gallery of drinks."

"August, did I hear?" He taps a finger against his chin, thinking, and then nods, slowly. "Ah, I see. Therein, the tree upon which my lioness lounges. You've found each other, then, here as well?" His hand to his heart again, this time, miming clutching his chest, as if in pain. "The most bitter draught, that you have been stolen away once more. Alas, alas. Lady Deryn, mayhaps, can comfort me, in my sorrow...." A quick wink to Sparrow, to let her know that he jests. Probably. Maybe?

A grin back. "Maybe, though I suspect there will soon enough be a line. I think I must introduce you to a friend of mine...."

"We have, yes." She touches the pendant just below her throat, her fingers tracing the pattern lightly as she smiles. "Which...I think...is much as it was before...." She trails off, watching the two of them banter.

"A friend, you say? Well, any friend of yours, shall be a friend of mine. Or a friend of us both at once! Bring them all on, I'll brew a tonic that will have satyrs clamoring for the recipe, so much vigor will it bring."

A a smile back at Coradel, the corners of his eyes crinkling a bit. "We shall have some catching up to do, you and I... aye, and August as well. Truly, da'an must have led me here, for if August is about, -someone- has to keep him on his toes, otherwise it will be all nose-into-the-scrolls once more, and poor lioness left to languish. Nay, I shall be glad to liven things up, yes."

His voice rumbling with a purr, delight at the thoughts of the mischief he might spread.

"Well, Dio is fond of rogues - to her detriment or pleasure, I cannot say."

A twinkle in her own eyes as she smiles in reply. "Oh, we must talk, indeed. At length."

"I shall look forward to it, indeed." And he pauses a moment, patting at his pockets, and sighs. "Wouldn't you know it, I jotted down the notes when given the tour de Runes, but I've misplayed my pad. I'd best be off to clean up after these drinks, after all, first impressions on a first day, I shouldn't want to seem untidy. Then, I must track down the little corner rug I was promised, so that tabby tom can curl up before the fire to snooze. I really MUST get my 20 hours of beauty rest a day."

A pause, and a quirked grin. "Unless there is a lap available? I promise not to knead with my claws -too- hard."

A wry look at Cora.

She offers him a playful grin. "Oh, I imagine you might find a bed with company to warm together. Perhaps Jack...?" A teasing look.

"Any warm body on a frosty night is a blessing," He responds easily, "Be it Jack or Jill. Felines may be fastidious, but I for one, am not picky, I will sup on fish or fowl alike, and praise the chef." He grins right back.

A little frown, sudden concern. "Oh! You look like you have been so cold! Surely you must bed down near the fire..."

"Then I bid you good hunting this night." A smile, then after Sparrow speaks, she looks at him more closely, and the smile slips away.

"Have you been without 'Fire for long?" She sets down her glass and puts a hand on his shoulder.