#earthrunes

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With both Baroness out and Regent busy, Delores is currently the 'go to' person, then again she is steward. Making sure they have enough of everything is part of her deal. She eyes the throne she will never sit on- and is grateful it is so. TOo much drama

With a whistle on her lips and no shoes on her feet, Emmaline makes her way towards the hollow hill. She's a wilder of middling years, late teens - maybe early twenties - and clothed simply. A faded floral sundress, a bead on a bit of ribbon at her neck, a backpack on her shoulders. Her short bob of hair is a soft grey and white puff to fae eyes, with ragged pink ears poking out. She has a tail, pink with a few black spots, and only a velvet layer of fur upon it. Rat? Mouse? No whiskers, per se...

A large troll (but I repeat myself) stands guard. He wears a symbol she may not recognize, that of Earth Runes. He eyes the oncoming fae, and prepares his most unwelcoming scowl, then he remembers it's a Fiona hold now and switches to a less trained welcoming smile "Hello."

"Bonjour and Ça va, cher!"

"Oh boy, uhm one moment and I'll get Dame Jennette and see if she can translate for us" The thane says "She's Beaumayn"

"Oh, I understand you clearer than a Baptist window on Easter sunday! But, oui, Jeanette, sure!"

"Oh, thank The Dreaming you speak Concordian"

"Oui, cher! Concord like the grape, French like the bread, Cajun like m'Pere. Is this the writing beneath the hill?"

"Actually, yes, in more ways than one. Earth Runes is so named because of the ancient tribal mounds here, but it also has an excellent library. May I ask your business here? Are you seeking haven? Or do you have a friend here already?"

"Aren't we friends?" She tilts her head, tattered ears lifting then drooping. "Well, I could be a spy."

He rubs his forehead, "I wonder if Vince is here? He's a pooka...or maybe Shalimar... pardon me, miss, my name is Oswald, and I'm just a thane. And I don't always 'grok' " He makes air quotes with fingers* "your kith. I suppose if you were a spy you wouldn't bring up the idea, so please feel free to go in. Steward Delores is here for certain, I believe many of the nobles are out. Obey the Escheat, and if you go to the gardens avoid any swaying bushes or trees, they're probably in use."

"Oh, OSWALD, of course! We are friends! How's your mama an' them?"

She reaches out to take his free hand, giving it a warm shake before he can stop her.

"I.." The troll who could crush most folks with one punch considers yanking his hand away but if she holds on she might to flying "Just.. uhm follow me. " Defering to your superiors, that'll get him out of this "I"ll take you to the Steward" And if she does not object, he starts to escort her up the hill towards the rather lovely hold that is Earth Runes. Hand holding optional

"I have always depended on the kindness of strangers. And, so it seems, new friends too! why, I'm sure I've been here years and years, and soon it will feel just like yesterday..."

"Or forever..." He says and soon she finds herself in the hall, where an elderly gent greets them//Innish raises a brow, 'Someone to announce, Thane?"//"ah Herald, this is oh... if she gave her name I forgot it. I don't know her business here but she seems harmless. I thought perhaps Steward Delores might offer her haven."// Innish nods "mm well, what's your name young lady, and do you wish a night or two here? ANd shall I announce you?"

"Oh, oui! The Grand Duchess Emmaline Evangeline Marie DuPre, Emissary of the Bayou, at your service." She sweeps into a bow.

"Also, perhaps a spy, as we previously established."

"OR a gypsy, fluttering through like a leaf in the wind. I suppose time will tell, as a tail tells tales, non?"

"I suppose we shall, young lady, though I certainly hope that if you're a spy you're one for hire, be nice to have one on our side for once. I think I'll pass on announcing you formally, given your titles and profession might confuse some"

"I suppose you could pick but one name. You would believe me if I claimed the star, wouldn't you? I am a creature of the night, after all. Though that might be a lie. Perchance I am crepuscular."

"Well, one name" He nods, "Since you appear to have asked.... " Ahem, "Steward Delores, I wish to introduce you to our latest guest from parts, purposes, and much else unknown- Emmaline."

The Steward, a wilder boggan, turns "mm? Oh... greetings miss Emmaline. Are you hungry per chance? Our kitchen has some food just now done, green beans, buttered rolls, and pork chops"

She breaks into a grin for the boggan, slightly gap-toothed. "That'd be powerful nice, I've a real envie for something... though I am uncertain if my stomach would much care for Wilbur. He's some humble, terrific, radiant pig..."

"Well, we won't be insulted if you pass on it" SHe says "follow me please"

"Pigs are smarter than dogs, who are smarter than five-year-olds, which I think makes pork chops a middle schooler. Say, do you have need of a pooka in this place, or are you full up?"

"Well, we have Vince, the bartender" She says as she walks, "Shalimar is our jester, he's been here since he was a childling, and speaking of childlings we have Isis and Enri, twins." A curious look, "Are you hoping for some sort of position at court?"

"Well, maybe not yes?"

"Mmm well, maybe you have some special skill or knack to offer? But we may have to wait for... oh here we are..." She gestures to a table, "Kitchen is nearby but we boggans get territorial about it. You wait right here food will be out."

"Merci buckets!" She plops down on a chair and looks around as she waits.

Shortly there after, not long at all, the aforementioned green beans, buttered rolls is brought out, but while she can pick pork chops, they also have fried chicken "Your pick" Careful not to phrase it as a question in hopes it helps

"Oh, ain't you faster than a thoroughbred on coffee!" Three rolls, a scoop of green beans... a second scoop... no chicken OR pork.

Speaking of coffee, both that, or tea are offered. As she seems to wave off the meat, they respect that and she can almost imaging them making a note of it. They leave her to her meal, though not before one goes "Let us know if you want seconds. You're a bit on the thin side"

"Now see, Alma Lou was wrong, you're all right hospitable! She lambasted yankees horribly. No charity, Alma Lou..."

"My good friend Oswald said you had a garden with dancing shrubberies. Have you a gardener?"

"You're a friend of Oswald, oh! Well, as a matter of fact, I'm not sure we do..." the boggan says "Though Vince spends time with the chimera out there"

Her tattered ears perk up. "Chimera? Oui?"

"Oh three snakes, though most seem nice... but other sorts are found there too. Chimerical butterflies and more. Place is just full of life since this became a Fiona hold. "

"Snakes, I know snakes. Why, I once charmed a cobra into dancing the limbo. They're basically shiny noodles, so when you say 'how low can you go,' it's low, let me tell you, cherie!"

"Now as for flowers, there's a rich lot, you should take a look... "

"That was back when I studied under the maharajas, of course. Mystical secrets, hush hush. But I took a vow then, oui, of being one with the universe which is why I wouldn't dream of having Wilbur or Alan A Dale for supper, but perhaps for tea? Flowers? Oh, and herbs? A healing garden?"

"Delores, this young lady wants a job in the garden..."

Delores was not far off, listening as she worked

"Could I have a bit of earth, that's what Mary Lennox asked... though I suppose my plans aren't so secret, are they?"

"Well, some flowers are always in demand for courting that goes around here," Delores says "Mmm. I suppose that's.."

"I could MAKE it a secret garden, and build up some ivy-covered walls... but do you have any impish Yorkshire urchins or psychosomatically paralyzed British heirs?"

"No, I suppose it must be a regular garden... "

As they talk, a woman limps in, a beautiful woman with brunette hair and blonde highlights- a sidhe, along side? Another sidhe. They're talking "Normally Thistlesnort heals me up" //"You broke a leg, Leonora, that's not a minor injury. WHat on Earth possessed you to try that?" //"I thought I could do it, Claire . NO biggie, I'm out for a day by the bale fire..."//"More like three"

"And really, Great-Aunt Ambrose IS an invalid. Why, she's one-hundred-and-eleventy years old if she's eighty!" Ears perk and she looks over at the pair of sidhe. "Ohhhh..."