#earthrunes

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Delores seeks out the Baroness Coradel, hunting her as it were

Elsewhere, Sparrow returns with Colton - the Countess having enjoyed a sour milkshake and now deep in dour tales of doom-touched antiques...

Colton says "I shouldn't have said anything about Sir Sergei I guess, but hee's been good to me."

"He has. And he IS a good man, yes..."

Delores finds Coradel with the childlings...they're making a list of what other Disney movies she should see.

Delores says "Baroness Coradel? I'm sorry to trouble you, but may i pull you away?"

Colton smiles, "Thank you. I... I don't know. I don't mind playing politics even if I'm not good at it. But not at the cost of turning on folks who have earned my trust."

"Of course." She stands, and leaves the list with the childlings. "Please add to this?"

She follows Delores into the corridor. "Is something wrong?"

Isis will take it, "I'll take charge as I am of royal blood"

Catir sighs "yes, Isis, you're in charge. Now here's how we're going to do this"

Delores says "You asked me to keep an eye on the visiting countess while she was here?"

"Well, obviously. He's proven himself. To us, to you."

"Yes...I've met her, and she seems pleasant."

"He has," he says then stops "Oh, look, there's Baroness Coradel and the Steward"

"She is pleasant," The Steward says "But she's also ..well, she's trying to ingratiate herself with the Chancellor. "

She raises a hand in greeting.

"Well, I'm not surprised, she...." Then she notes that the others are waving, and waves back, smiling as she says, "Tell me a bit more, later, Delores?"

She goes to meet the group. "You have explored a bit, Excellency?"

"Hey. Yes, we've explored. I left her at the antiques shop - I doubt she'll leave before midnight, if I'm any judge. Did you get a chance to observe her?"

Only Judy can Judge me

Delores looks back and forth at that last bit

((Whoops, sorry, didn't realize she wasn't there.))

OOC: yeah,Countess is not there 🙂

((Back that up a bit then....))

OOC: Okay

((DLP the bit where Coradel cut off Delores's comments.))

"I was able to speak with her a bit, but Delores was just beginning to tell me her thoughts...."

Delores bows to Sparrow, then says "yes, Baroness Deryn, I...well, I believe the Countess is trying to curry your favor."

"Which means she's figured out why Deryn wanted to speak with her to begin with."

"Yes, that was my thought as well"

A sigh. "Possibly. She is a Beaumayn, and I might not be the most subtle character."

Colton says "She's also well, a sluagh. And they're really good at shadowing you. Baron Hazlaan had five spies in his service, three of them were sluagh you'd never notice unless they wanted you to."

"You think she's been having me watched?" Rumpled.

"I....hope that's not the case." Coradel frowns.

"I think she watched you enough " Delores says, "And not with malice. The...feel of it was like she was hoping to impress, not like a car salesman, but more like a bride to be trying to impress her future inlaws. "

Colton mutters "Okay, sometimes boggans are creepier than sluagh"

Coradel smiles. "Delores, I'm awfully glad you're on our side."

"Well..." She hesitates. "If she knew - I can't say I entirely blame her?"

"She is surprisingly socially adept for one of her kith."

Delores blushes

"She's playing the game, all nobles have to cater a bit to their higher ups" Colton says with experience that belies his years

"I would certainly do the same if I were in her position, I think. Play the game, I mean. It is always advantageous to know what pleases the people you wish to impress."

"I do like her more now that she opened up a bit. I don't think she was lying..."

Delores nods, "And while no one would deny your fondness for the Baron when you were his ward, you certainly knew how to be winsome to try to get what you wanted" She smiles at Coradel "Not that he always fell for it"

"Don't think she's been lying about what?"

"I thought that was just girls period" Colton mutters

"About anything in particular? She might have chosen her phrasing carefully, tried to impress... but I don't think she's secretly some foul demon, right?"

"It helps to be appealing." Coradel nods.