#earthrunes

He glances around, is about to speak, but then steps back to allow Coradel the floor.

"Oh thank you for your understanding" the Countess says, "I hope to visit again, but for now, my priority is Deryn's kind company" She offers her hand to the winged Liam "If you still wish it?"

She looks over to August, a slight nod.

Frowning, but he says nothing.

She takes the hand, feathers fluffed out again. "It would be only my right duty to escort you." A little smile, like she's getting away with something.

Amused, "I can tell you're very passionate about it," Playfully indeed, and the two women walk off.

Once the Count/Countess is gone, Gideon finally says "I don't trust him..her, it. There I said it."

Coradel seems a bit tense, but watches them go without interruption.

"No..." A sigh.

Stevi snorts "Don't be so close minded, Gideon."

Delores blushes, "Afraid I was as gobsmacked as anyone. He... does seem very unseelie. "

August turns to Coradel. "Are you sure?" (About Derynwydd and Honeyblade)

"I don't have a problem with unseelie. But if he uses her poorly, there will be consequences. Oh, and she's going to be agonizing over the good time she had...but what are the options? She's an adult, and she wants to go, and there's no clear reason to stop her. But I don't think I want Honeyblade in charge of this county, and I'll make sure Deryn knows that."

Gideon huruhmps "He she wants to be unseelie, that's his her business, but you don't come in and spike the punchbowls of the party you're invited to so liberally out at the get go. You play intruments, not people"

August shifts in place, turning to look after the departed couple. He does not, however, run after them. So, progress.

A sigh, and she shakes a bit of the discomfort off. "Well," her tone brightens. "Let's see what's for dinner."

Stevi sighs "He she was GORGEOUS, both ways. Let her have fun, Gideon"

And all part for dinner and sleep...

save for those that already left for..other things?

(End Scene)

Sometime later the next day, timing it for after Brunch, Sir Neachdainn ap Ailil makes his way to look about for the Chancellior.

Said Chancellor is doing homework - so, yes, up to her elbows in charcoal once more.

A knock on the door frame of where she's studying

"Yes?"

"Chancellor, if you have a moment ? I'm, in some ways, acting as a Reeve for the Unseelie here. In some ways... more anticipating their whims as it were"

She sits up, wings flitting a bit before they settle. "Of course. I'm listening. Please, sit." She gestures to an open seat.

He comes in, closes the door behind him, and takes a seat

"Thank you, my sources, and don't worry, said sources are contained, tell me you have the ears of the Duke and Duchess in their selection for the Count or Countess that will reign over this barony"

"Their Graces hold the choice, sir."

"Yes, they do, but they also will base that choice in large part on what you suggest" Neachdainn counters with a smile, "You impressed them. They are therefore relying on you."

"I did have the good fortune of interacting with several likely choices, true. I have my opinions of them. But it seems you might wish to sway those?"

"I do," Sir Neachdainn says "Dame Claire has mentioned in the past that any Ailil dealing with you should put aside the urge for undercurrents and double meanings and be more direct, not because you don't comprehend subtltey, far from that but because our House's rep might cause too soft a touch to be seen as an attempt to pull your strings. I...admit, I'm not sure I'm good at that. I enjoy being clever, but I will try to be direct if that won't offend?"

"I prefer directness, yes. And I dislike being manipulated."

"Well, you know, being manipulated can actually be pleasant, if they work properly for it. Shows a strange sort of respect... ahem, but I digress. " A deep breath, "I'm here to ask that if any of the applicants appear unseelie, you push for them. Folks on the winter side are a bit scared."

"I cannot promise that. Not on court alone. I... will say, I have made an effort to put aside my house's bias concerning winter."

"I appreciate that" he says

"And I have been pleasantly surprised in my experience."

"Good. Allow me to explain why I think it's essential to have an Unseelie count or Countess?"

"You may. But you understand the political difficulty, in the wake of the Leanhuan."

"Very much so, " He says "And that is why some Unseelie are spooked. Our Duke and Duchess are themselves again. Thanks in no small part to you. But now we have a rightly angry Gwydion, and a crusading Beaumayn ready to attack the Shadow Court. Completely understandable ... but, crusades have a way of crushing a lot of innocents. 'Are you Shadow Court?' can soon lead to "Are you a shadow court sympathizer?' can lead to "You seem to agree with some of their view points and be vulnerable to recruiting, you might want to stay in touch with us' and so on. You see why they're nervous? This could be MCarthy era stuff, and while Baroness Coradel would resist it for she does love allof her people, we're talking COUNT level. The Dukes need to see an Unseelie can not only not be on the side of the Shadow Court, but do damn well against it."

"I think that fear is... I hope, unsubstantiated. The Shadow Court is a threat, and we have a red path in our lands and a very recent history of danger. But I have met unseelie who have surprised me, ones who oppose the Court, ones who are not evil..."

"You have, but, again, the Duke and Duchess are the power overall, and the Count or Countess you suggest into power can make easy points by suppressing the Winter Court. And even if they don't agree with it as a philosophy, they might do it for political gain. . And that's..bad for all of us. When you treat a group of people like the enemy, they're more likely to turn to the enemy for shelter. Unseelie are frustrated enough that the cycle of changing leaders is, for much of Concordia, long gone. Add to that a feeling of permanent underclass, and resentment forms, and folks far more skilled than I at manipulation, and I'm good at it, will have them sure the Shadow Court cares"

"I cannot advocate an Unseelie who places passions so far before duty. Because while that is fine, perhaps, on an individual level, it is not what we need in leadership."

"But I do see the potential for trouble - you see it too when commoners are oppressed."

"For some Unseelie, they are very passionate about their duty. Perhaps?" Then he considers her next comment "I'm glad you see that. Yes. The commoners have even more reason to look to the Shadow Court. Unseelie Houses hope to gain power and influence in it. Commoners? Some of them will be driven to it for survival. The hierarchy of needs is a powrful... pardon, you don't want to hear that"

"You know I was not always so cozily appointed, don't you? I know how overwhelming survival can be."

"You know better than I to be sure. Like many Arcaidans I descended into a life of comfort. Honestly, if it weren't for my sister, I would say I had it more than easy. " Slight humor at the mention of his blood relation Gwydion then "No, I would not dare to compare my trials to yours. But I am glad to see those trials make you aware of how desperation is a very dangerous yoke. We need an Unseelie presence, preferably an open one, at the County level if we can get it."

"You have heard - you mentioned, even... the old tradition, of Beltaine and Samhain?"

"Well, yes, of course, my own House is rather resentful about that lack, no point in me pretending otherwise" He says "There are those who believe that the imbalance is actually spreading banality. With the seasons, the Dreaming was more in motion, a cycle of harmony, when motion ends stagnation begins."

She bites on her lip, nodding.