#earthrunes

On Wednesday morning, sometime after breakfasting wtih August but before court, Coradel seeks out Vince.

Delores sends Coradel over to the one of the supply pantries, where Vince is putting the finishing touches on her adventure gear. He stands up when she enters, having been doublechecking the strap on the light backpack. "Oh, Lioness. There you are! I was worried you were going to leave without your lunch."

"Vince? You oversaw this?" A smile. "Is it all cocktail thermoses?"

He gives her a small grin. "Not -all-. Let's see... hmm..." pulling a small notepad from his back pocket and checking over the list. "Cherries, lime wedges, martini olives, shakers... " He taps his chin thoughtfully. "Do you think there will be ice along the way?"

The small carrysack on the floor, mind you, doesn't appear to contain any such frivolities - sized for her frame and to be easily hefted with light weights supplies - a collapsible canteen is glimpsed, a rolled up solar blanket.

A little laugh. "And I suppose it all transforms into a wet bar with a bit of glamour." She steps close to give him a light kiss. "Thank you, Whiskers."

"Oh, oh, someone told you my surprise." He affects a pout, and leans into the kiss. "Have you made your farewells, and ready to head out? I have a few minor perishables I'll want to add right before departure."

"Not entirely. Another hour or so." A pause. "Whiskers, August wanted me to ask you something. Well, you and Bachdion."

He blinks, and settles back on his heels. "If it was about me being his backup Mistress, I already graciously accepted."

A smile. "You're actually not far off, but in reverse. He wants me to...how did he say it?...'be comfortable' on this trip, and if I won't let him go with me, he wants me to have company. So...I am inviting you."

His expression falls, and he gives her a hangdog look. "Why, Coradel... I... that just isn't going to be possible."

"No?" She's not sure how to read the pooka at the moment.

He only lets her waffle on this for a few moments before relenting, leaning in to bump her with his forehead, grinning. "I already invited myself as official Quest-Crasher.".

Reaching behind a shelf, he pulls out a second carrysack - this one larger but still reasonable, a hiking backback with plenty of room to store necessities... oh, and is that a cocktail shaker in the water bottle pocket? It certainly is.

An amused pout. "Did you and he conspire on this?"

"Would you believe me if I denied it?" He grins. Then, his tone solemn for a moment, he responds, "I know you have been distraught by the loss of your weapon, until the Squires, da'an willing, recover it for you. But until then, I will serve as your sword against the darkness." He strikes a noble pose.

...and then he leans in against her, pressing snugly against her side for a moment, and murmurs into her ear... "AND your spear..."

She leans into the nuzzling and smiles. "Your service in these capacities is truly welcome, dear Whiskers." She reaches up to brush her fingers along his cheek.

He wraps his arms around her, nuzzling her cheek for a moment - meanwhile, something tickles her midsection. No, not that, it's a little too high... ah! A reddish-gold serpent slips from a gap in his button-up shirt and slides up onto Coradel's arm.

"Oh, wee one. You'll have to ask the Lioness if she want sitting duties on this adventure." He lightly scolds Arye.

"Oh! Hello, Arye. I would very much love to have you with us...but that depends on whether your father thinks you are ready for such an adventure." She looks to Vince for his opinion.

He ponders the little snake - now roughly the size of a child's belt - and indeed, wasn't Isis just giggling the other day as she startled one of the stewards with her jewel-toned accouterments? "I do profess that it would be intriguing to see how the dreaming takes to him, seeing as that is from whence he came. If our Liam will watch over the siblings, Sir Bold here might come with under my supervision, 'twould it not bother you to have another guest."

"Oh, I think it would be a fine learning experience, on both sides. I will check with August. And...well, while you will be my blade, I should make sure to have a bow and blade of my own from stores. Not as pleasant as my own treasure, but...good for the current purposes." She strokes Arye's head, then taps his nose. "No arguments when it is time for sleep, little one."

The snake bumps his head against her hand, very reminiscent of Vince's own mannerisms. "Huzzah. Then the fellowship is formed, and we depart anon!" He beams.

"I'll settle the other wee ones with their ward - something to keep our Liam busy so he doesn't fret himself -too- much. Leonora may also help in that regard, mmmm?"

"Oh, I'm sure she will. Incidentally...very nice prank you pulled on them, Whiskers." She taps his nose this time.

He takes on a beatific look of innocence. "Would I do such a thing?"

"In a heartbeat," she murmurs, and leans up to give him a slow, lingering kiss.

He returns it, and then sets the snake lightly aside, along with his pack. "Well, we should have a -little- time before we leave...." He purrs, but then strokes his chin thoughtfully. "I do say, our Liam likely would enjoy this going-away smooch as much as I, and I must keep mine own lips limber for the journey." Leaning back away with a touch of reluctance, and he gives Coradel a friendly swat on the rear. "Go on then, make sure he remembers to miss you for a few days, before we head out. If you don't I will, and there might be a fuss!"

She smiles at the swat. "Oh, I must surely defend him from such an attack. Let us be ready in an hour...or perhaps two." A wink, and she's gone.

He watches her go, as always appreciating the view, and then settles in to double-check the packs and make sure that the canteens are filled appropriately.

((Scene?))

((Scene))

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Coradel is a much beloved Baroness. VERY beloved. SO beloved that she might be ready to draw a sword and carve her way out of there. Vince was wonderful, August is worried and that's sweet, her children are trying to help organize her journey, and Delores is going over every last detail for supplies and wardrobe! Isis and Enri gave her stickers for luck.

So Coradel finds herself seeking something she doesn't often seek...solitude.

(Narrator's voice: She's not going to get it)

The gardens...the hedge maze...just for a few minutes while everybody is so busy fussing....

"Are you kidding? The gardens are the first place we look" A voice speaks up. Whether she draws blade out of frustration or not, is her call...but it would appear Bachdion has found her

A sigh, but she's not truly upset. "Of course. I should have gone for the stables. Or perhaps...oh, I don't know, a coat closet somewhere."

"You're Fiona, our closets tend to have transparent doors" Speaking of blades, he glances down, "You haven't thought things through have you?" For her scabbard is empty.

(speaking of blades?) "I'm...well, I'll be checking in the armory in a bit. Blade and bow. It won't be the same, but it will be something."

"If I may? Before you take just any generic off the cuff chimeric sword?" he reaches to his belt then winks "Sadly, it's not what we both might hope for" and removes his own scabbard and saber "How about this? If you're taking Samson, saber can be used from horse back, and it's a fine blade, has some enchantments on it that allow it to glow for light, warm when cold, and the scabbard makes your skin as durable as tough hide while you're in the buff."

Bachdion offers it to her "And, I would be honored if my prize pupil carried it "

Her jaw drops and she looks at the blade. "My teacher...are you sure?"

"Oh, I'll want it returned" He winks, "By then you'll have your own treasure back. But in the mean time? Yes, It would be a point of pride to me. Besides, I think if i asked you about rations and gear of the more mundane sort for the long journey you might be tempted to strangle me"

A smile. "You wouldn't be wrong. I am deeply honored...thank you." She gracefully accepts the blade, and belts it on. Then a fond look to him. "August insisted I take company on this journey if I wouldn't let him go. I found Vince first...and he was already prepared to go...but I would have asked you as well. But two companions, a steed, and a young red serpent is beginning to feel like a very large group for my quest."

"Your call, if you like, I'll stay here and try to keep an eye on August. He's a fine young man and your trueheart. If you are a day too late I may have to flicker flash him to a pub and try to sedate him

"Oh, my teacher, would you? I can't imagine this will take that long, but...yes, he's likely to be frantic. You've been an excellent guide for him, and I'm hoping that you...and Leonora...should at least be able to, ah, distract him?"

"I would. I think going with you might be less of a challenge. Dragons or what not have to be easier than Liam anxieties" A grin "But Leonora can handle one aspect while I handle the other" Bachdion looks at his weapon and scabbard on her "Looks better on you than me"

She smiles. "Maybe it would look the same on you if you started wearing corsets?" A wink, and then she moves in to embrace him. "Thank you so much, Bachdion."

The embrace is returned, "Welcome. Now, if you want I can flicker flash you to a beach for a few hours to give you that privacy, but I think you're feeling better now. THey do pester out of love"

"Oh, so very tempting...especially with the right company on that beach..." she moves against him slightly, smiling up at him "...but I am feeling better. More ready."